Toyota and Isuzu Collaborate to Build Hydrogen Trucks, Launch in 2027

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Isuzu and Toyota have officially announced their collaboration in developing the first light Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) truck to be mass-produced in Japan.

Quoting Carscoops, this strategic step is taken to fill the gap in the urban logistics sector, which has been difficult for battery-based electric vehicles (Battery Electric Vehicles/BEVs) to penetrate, particularly for specific freight transport needs.

The project will utilise the ladder-frame chassis base from the Isuzu Elf EV (N-Series), which has been available since 2023. However, the powertrain system will be replaced with Toyota’s third-generation hydrogen technology.

In addition to being more efficient, this system is designed to have longer durability, making it suitable for heavy and high-intensity commercial use in urban areas.

So why hydrogen? One of the main challenges for battery electric trucks in the logistics sector is the additional power required for refrigeration equipment (refrigerator).

Moreover, the long battery charging duration can disrupt tight delivery schedules.

With hydrogen, the refuelling process only takes a relatively short time, almost equivalent to filling diesel in conventional trucks. This certainly provides greater flexibility for fleet operators or logistics companies.

In addition to zero CO2 emissions, this FCEV truck also offers advantages such as much lower vibration and noise compared to conventional diesel engines, thereby increasing driver comfort while working.

Although the technology is promising, the biggest challenge currently remains the high vehicle production costs and the uneven hydrogen refuelling infrastructure.

Isuzu and Toyota state that the key to the success of this project is optimising the vehicle structure and manufacturing processes to reduce the eventual selling price.

The plan is for mass production of this light hydrogen truck to begin in Japan’s fiscal year 2027, or at the latest before 30 March 2028.

This collaboration is not the first for the two automotive giants, as they have previously collaborated on developing the hydrogen city bus, ERGA FCV.