Isuzu and Toyota to develop Japan’s first mass-produced fuel cell light truck

Isuzu Motors Limited and Toyota Motor Corporation have agreed to jointly develop a next-generation light-duty fuel cell electric truck, targeting mass production from the 2027 financial year.

The vehicle will be based on Isuzu’s ELF EV light-duty truck platform and will incorporate Toyota’s third-generation fuel cell system, with both companies working together to ensure compatibility and durability for commercial use.

The companies say the project is aimed at supporting high-utilisation commercial applications.

“Light-duty trucks are often used for deliveries to supermarkets, convenience stores, and other services that support everyday life. In many cases, these vehicles are equipped with refrigeration or frozen storage capabilities and make multiple deliveries per day, requiring long operating hours and being driven long distances,” they say.

“Under such operating conditions, quick energy replenishment is essential to maintaining operational efficiency.”

The companies say hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric vehicles offer advantages over battery electric vehicles in these use cases.

“For such high-utilization applications, fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) which use hydrogen as a high-energy-density fuel, represent an effective option.”

“Compared to BEVs, which face the challenge of long charging times, FCEVs can significantly reduce refueling time.”

The new truck will utilise Isuzu’s I-MACS product development platform and adopt Toyota’s next-generation fuel cell stack, aimed at improving durability and extending service life.

The companies say cost reduction will be key to broader adoption.

“One of the challenges to the widespread adoption of FCEVs is the high vehicle price point.”

The development builds on previous collaboration between the two companies, including work on the ERGA fuel cell bus and a light-duty truck demonstration project led by Commercial Japan Partnership Technologies Corporation.

The companies say the partnership will support wider hydrogen adoption.

“As initiatives to expand hydrogen utilisation advance at the national and local government levels, the two companies are working with local governments and businesses in each region to support the wider adoption of hydrogen mobility,” the companies say.