- Toyota is adding another hydrogen fuel cell endeavor to its portfolio.
- The Japanese company wants to become the third shareholder in Cellcentric, the German startup jointly owned by Daimler Truck and the Volvo Group.
- Cellcentric’s latest working fuel cell was installed in a Mercedes-Benz truck, which drove 650 miles on a full tank of hydrogen.
Toyota is not done with hydrogen yet. Despite the Mirai being anything but a success, the Japanese industry giant wants to play a bigger role in the development of the next generation of hydrogen fuel cells that will eventually power heavy commercial vehicles.
To make that happen, Toyota wants to become the third shareholder in Cellcentric, the German startup founded in 2021 that’s currently jointly owned by Daimler Truck and the Volvo Group. The four companies signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on fuel cell technology, with Toyota bringing three decades of experience to the table.
(Left to right) Karin Rådström, President and CEO of Daimler Truck; Koji Sato, President of Toyota Motor Corporation; Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO of Volvo Group
Photo by: Cellcentric
When closed, the three shareholders will have equal rights, and the shared goal is to develop, manufacture, and sell fuel cell systems for heavy-duty vehicles and other heavy-duty applications with similar requirements.
A pair of Cellcentric’s production-ready fuel cells will power a limited run of Mercedes-Benz NextGenH2 trucks that will start rolling off the assembly line toward the end of this year. Each BZA150 fuel cell outputs 150 kilowatts, sipping liquid hydrogen from a pair of tanks that can store up to 85 kilograms of fuel.
A pair of Cellcentric’s BZA150 fuel cells power the Mercedes-Benz NextGen H2 semi truck.
Photo by: Cellcentric
The power produced by the fuel cells is sent to a massive 101-kilowatt-hour lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery that, in turn, powers the rear electric axle. Lifted straight from the production eActros 600 all-electric truck, the e-axle can deliver up to 496 horsepower (370 kW). In other words, it’s like an extended-range EV (EREV) without a charge port.
Back in 2023, a fully-loaded 40-ton Mercedes-Benz hydrogen truck powered by the same BZA150 fuel cells drove 650 miles (1,047 kilometers) on a full tank, making the technology comparable with diesel-powered big rigs. When it comes to refueling, Mercedes-Benz claims it takes between 10 and 15 minutes to get back on the road.
Not to be outdone, Toyota upped the ante last year when it revealed the third generation of its fuel cell, which promises more power and more efficiency than its predecessor, while also being lighter and smaller. Just like Cellcentric, Toyota claims its newest fuel cell is comparable to diesel engines, with the added benefit of a maintenance-free design and no harmful emissions.
Cellcentric NextGen hydrogen fuel cell
Photo by: Cellcentric
Even before Toyota’s announcement that it wants in on the action at Cellcentric, the German fuel cell startup has been hard at work on its next generation of hydrogen-powered powertrain. Dubbed simply NextGen, the fuel cell system has a target continuous output of up to 375 kW, so more than double compared to the current BZA150 system. Engineers are also looking for a 20% reduction in fuel consumption, a 40% reduction in waste heat and complexity, and a 40% increase in power density.
This is all great news for the trucking industry, but it all hinges on the refueling infrastructure, which is severely undersized compared to diesel fueling stations and even electric DC fast chargers.
