TRAVERSE CITY, Mich.,
July 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Toyota
today took the next great leap towards the future of zero-emission
trucking, unveiling the second iteration of its hydrogen fuel cell
electric Class 8 truck before a crowd of media and industry leaders
during the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) Management Briefing
Seminars in Northern Michigan.
The new truck, known internally as "Beta," expands on the
capabilities of Toyota's first Project Portal test vehicle by
increasing the estimated range to more than 300 miles per fill. The
truck also enhances versatility and maneuverability with the
addition of a sleeper cab and a unique fuel cabinet combination
that further increases cab space without increasing wheelbase.
Since it first began operation in April
2017, the Project Portal "Alpha" truck has logged nearly
10,000 miles of testing and real-world drayage operations in and
around the Ports of Long Beach and
Los Angeles while emitting nothing
but water vapor. The Beta vehicle will begin drayage operations in
the fall, increasing the Ports' zero emission trucking capacity and
further reducing the environmental impact of drayage
operations.
Lessons Learned: Increased Range, Improved
Process
Project Portal 2.0 builds on the lessons learned
from the launch of the Alpha vehicle in 2017. The first heavy-duty
truck was the result of a true skunkworks effort within Toyota that
moved from initial concept to a fully-capable drayage truck driving
silently out of a Michigan garage
in just over a year. Engineers and technicians worked long hours to
reconfigure the wire harnesses, electronics and other components of
two off-the-lot Mirai fuel cell electric cars to create one of the
world's first OEM-built zero-emission heavy trucks.
The results of their work continue to impress. With a gross
combined weight capacity of 80,000 lbs. and a driving range of more
than 200 miles per fill, the 670-plus horsepower Alpha truck
produces 1325 pound-feet of torque from two Mirai fuel cell stacks
and a 12kWh battery. Project Portal Beta maintains these torque and
horsepower numbers while also extending the range of the vehicle
and pushing forward on other key performance metrics.
"By evaluating the first truck in our test facilities and on the
actual roads in the LA area, we made a list of improvements for the
Beta truck build process and performance enhancements," said
Andrew Lund, Chief Engineer for the
project. He continued, "We needed to move beyond a proof of
concept, which the first truck accomplished, to something that is
not only better than the original but is also more commercially
viable."
A Step Toward the Future, Reflections From the
Past
The story of Project Portal's inception and evolution
follows the long tradition of Toyota innovation that dates to the
company's entry into the automotive space. The first Toyota (then
Toyoda) sedan, the A1, was produced in much the same manner as the
original Project Portal truck- through experimentation, trial and
error, and a lot of sweat. Once completed in 1935, the A1 was
tested by the company's founder, Kiichiro
Toyoda, and then refined into their first commercially
available car, the Toyoda AA. Likewise, through the lessons learned
with the first truck, Project Portal 2.0 is more refined,
functional, and capable. Also, just as the AA started Toyota on a
path as an automotive leader, Project Portal is expanding Toyota's
already robust environmental leadership to the next level. Going
forward, Toyota remains committed to supporting the development of
a consumer-facing hydrogen infrastructure to realize the potential
of fuel cell vehicles.
A Drop of h2 in the Bucket
Over 16,000
pollution-emitting trucks are working in Ports of Long Beach and Los
Angeles, a number that is estimated to balloon to 32,000 by
2030. More than 43,000 drayage trucks are in operation at ports
across the United States,
contributing significant amounts of carcinogens, diesel particulate
matter (DPM) and other pollutants into the air of port communities
and surrounding neighborhoods.
"Our goal with the first truck was to see if it could be
accomplished, and we did that," said Senior Manager for Toyota's
North American Electrified Vehicle & Technologies Office Craig
Scott. "This time we're looking at commercial viability. We want to
help make a difference… a significant difference when it comes to
the air quality not only in the LA area but across the U.S. and
around the globe."
More Than Just Trucks
This announcement is a
continuation of Toyota's Environmental Challenge 2050 efforts to
eliminate CO2 emissions from its Toyota Logistics facility at the
Port of Long Beach. Toyota has
previously announced the construction of the Tri-Gen facility which
will be the first megawatt-sized carbonate fuel cell power
generation plant with hydrogen fueling in the world. The 100%
renewable plant will use agricultural waste to generate water,
electricity, and hydrogen that will support Toyota Logistics
Services' (TLS) operations at the Port of Long Beach.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE: TM) has been a part of the
cultural fabric in the U.S. and North
America for 60 years and is committed to advancing
sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus
brands. During that time, Toyota has created a tremendous value
chain as our teams have contributed to world-class design,
engineering, and assembly of more than 36 million cars and trucks
in North America, where we operate
14 manufacturing plants (10 in the U.S.) and directly employ more
than 47,000 people (more than 37,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800
North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold more
than 2.7 million cars and trucks (2.4 million in the U.S.) in 2017
– and about 87 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 15
years are still on the road today.
Toyota partners with community, civic, academic, and
governmental organizations to address our society's most pressing
mobility challenges. We share company resources and extensive
know-how to support non-profits to help expand their ability to
assist more people to move more places. For more information about
Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.
Toyota Motor North America Research & Development (TMNA
R&D) aims to redefine next-generation cars as not simply a form
of transportation, but as a fully connected vehicle. In fact, since
2003, Toyota has been awarded more patents than any other
automaker, including autonomous vehicle patents (more than 1,400).
Centered in Ann Arbor, Michigan,
Toyota puts the brightest thinkers from all across America together
to focus on letting people live more safely and comfortably.
Globally, Toyota spends approximately $1
million per hour on R&D to ensure that Toyota rapidly
and continuously develops cutting-edge, high-quality, and appealing
vehicles.
Media Contact:
Brian Watkins
734-219-8015
brian.watkins@toyota.com
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SOURCE Toyota Motor North America