Kenworth and Toyota team up for fuel cell trucks

Kenworth and Toyota Motor North America are collaborating to develop 10 hydrogen fuel cell trucks.

They will be based on the Kenworth T680 and powered by Toyota hydrogen fuel cell electric powertrain technology.

The collaboration is part of a US$41 million Zero and Near-Zero Emissions Freight Facilities (ZANZEFF) grant awarded by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), with the Port of Los Angeles as the prime applicant.

The funding is part of a larger $82 million programme that will put fuel cell electric trucks, hydrogen fueling infrastructure, and zero emissions cargo handling equipment into operation in the ports and Los Angeles basin in 2020.

The Kenworth T680s will transport cargo across the Los Angeles basin and to inland cities.

Kenworth general manager and PACCAR vice president Mike Dozier says the project marks the start of exciting things to come.

“This is an excellent opportunity for Kenworth and Toyota to work together to both explore and drive the development of advanced zero emission technologies that will play a critical role in the commercial transportation of the future,”

Toyota Motor North America executive vice president Bob Carter says it’s “not just a science experiment, the goal is to make a difference in society”.

“To remove pollution and improve the air quality in and around the Port of Los Angeles,” he says.

The Kenworth T680s with the Toyota hydrogen fuel cell electric powertrains combine hydrogen gas and air to produce electricity through the lithium-ion batteries.

The hydrogen fuel cell T680s will have a range of over 480 kilometres under normal operating conditions.

The program will also fund hydrogen fuel infrastructure, including two new fueling stations that will be developed through Shell Oil Products U.S.