Toyota Opens a Portal to the Future of Zero Emission Trucking With Hydrogen Fuel Cells

“Project Portal “is a hydrogen fuel cell system that is specially designed for heavy- duty trucks at the Port of Los Angeles. This study will help examine the promising usage of fuel cell technology in heavy duty applications.

Announced at a press conference with Port officials and representatives from California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the California Energy Commission (CEC), this concept of a zero emission truck will take part in a feasibility study examining the potential of fuel cell technology in heavy duty applications.

The future of this kind of heavy-duty trucking will hit the streets in the form of Toyota Motor North America, Inc.’s (TMNA) “Project Portal”. The hydrogen fuel cell system is designed for heavy-duty truck use. The proof of concept zero-emission class eight truck has so far completed more than 4,000 miles successfully, discharging only water vapor.

“Toyota has led the way in expanding the understanding and adoption of fuel cell technology,” said TMNA Executive Vice President Bob Carter. “From the introduction of the Mirai passenger vehicle to the creation of the heavy-duty fuel cell system in Project Portal, Toyota continues to demonstrate the versatility and scalability of the zero-emission fuel cell powertrain.”

With testing and development miles completed, Project Portal is ready to start the initial feasibility routes. These routes will begin on October 23^rd and involve moving goods from selected Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach terminals. The routes are localized in order to test drayage duty – cycle capacity of the fuel cell system. The truck’s daily trips will total about 200 miles. As the study makes progress in the future, longer haul routes will be introduced.

The first feasibility operation will be handled and managed by the TMNA Project Portal team, together with Toyota’s Service Parts Accessories Operations group and its drayage provider, Southern Counties Express (SCE). The announcement was made in April 2017, and Project Portal is just the next step in Toyota’s aim of extending the usage of zero fuel cell technology which could serve various industries. Heavy-duty trucks are fully functioning and have the power to conduct port drayage operations. The most important thing is that during these operations, they produce zero emission. If we look at the percentage of annual emissions, these heavy duty vehicles are significant.

The Project Portal heavy – duty truck concept produces more than 670 horsepower and 1,325 pound feet of torque from two Mirai fuel cell stacks and a 12kWh battery. These batteries are small to hold a structure of 8 load operations. The idea’s total, connected weight capacity is 80,000 lbs. The predicted driving range is more than 200 miles per fill, under normal drayage movement.

For more info, watch video: http://pressroom.toyota.com/video_display.cfm?video_id=35963