Toyota Powers Up: Slashing Costs in Europe's Hydrogen Fuel Future
Brussels, Wednesday, 29 January 2025.
Toyota is shaking up Europe’s hydrogen scene, speeding up refuelling while slashing costs. With ENGIE and HRS, they aim for hydrogen stations every 200 km by 2030! Talk about commitment.
The Twin Mid Flow Revolution
I’m excited to share how Toyota Motor Europe is revolutionizing hydrogen refueling with their groundbreaking Twin Mid Flow (TMF) Technology. This innovative system, developed in partnership with Hydrogen Refueling Solutions and ENGIE, is a game-changer for both heavy and light vehicles [1][2]. What impresses me most is how it can refuel heavy-duty vehicles in under 10 minutes and light vehicles in less than 5 minutes [2]. As someone passionate about sustainable transport, I find it remarkable how this technology is making hydrogen refueling more accessible and efficient.
Testing and Implementation
The real-world testing of this technology is set to begin in late 2025 at HRS facilities in Champagnier, Grenoble, France [2]. This project, known as RHeaDHy, has secured EU funding under the Horizon Europe research programme [2]. What’s particularly exciting is how this aligns with the European Union’s ambitious AFIR requirements - they’re aiming to have publicly accessible hydrogen stations every 200 kilometers along TEN-T networks by 2030 [2].
Toyota’s European Commitment
I’ve been following Toyota’s commitment to hydrogen technology closely, and their European presence is impressive. They currently employ over 25,000 people across Europe and have invested more than €11 billion since 1990 [1]. Their network spans eight manufacturing plants across various countries including Portugal, the UK, France, Poland, Czech Republic, and Turkey [1]. In 2024, they achieved remarkable success with 1,217,132 vehicle sales in Europe, capturing a 7.1% market share [1].
Infrastructure and Innovation
HRS’s capabilities in this partnership are truly impressive. They can produce up to 180 stations annually, with their existing network of 28 stations capable of handling more than 6 tons of hydrogen per day [2]. This infrastructure development comes at a crucial time, especially considering the challenges faced in other markets. For perspective, while we’re expanding in Europe, the U.S. market still struggles with limited infrastructure - they had only 54 hydrogen refueling stations as of mid-2024, with 53 of them in California [8].