Toyota turns California HQ into hydrogen centre

Toyota Motor North America has announced that it is renaming the TMNA R&D California office as its new North American Hydrogen Headquarters (H2HQ).

The newly designated H2HQ is planned to drive North American hydrogen initiatives and support the localization of global hydrogen-related technologies and products. These will include light-duty fuel cell applications, heavy-duty fuel cell opportunities, stationary fuel cell power generation, port vehicle applications and more.

The facility will house Toyota’s largest dynamometer, a scalable test bench for stationary applications, and a hydrogen fueling station capable of providing fuel for both light- and heavy-duty vehicles, with 1.2 MW. Construction has already begun on a flexible microgrid to connect a 230 kW photovoltaic system, a 1-MW stationary proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell generator, 325-kW solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), and an onsite 500-kWh battery energy storage system.

“Toyota has developed hydrogen fuel cell electric solutions for more than three decades, and we will continue to advance this scalable, zero-emission technology as part of our electrified portfolio,” said Ted Ogawa, President and CEO, Toyota Motor North America. “Renaming this facility as North American Hydrogen Headquarters represents our leadership in fuel cell development creating real-world products to help reduce carbon emissions.”

Last year, Toyota had also restructured its hydrogen business in Japan, setting up a so-called ‘Hydrogen Factory’ to bundle production and research activities related to hydrogen. A similar process also took place in Europe.

The renewed interest in fuel cell technology comes somewhat baffling, as the market is not really well-developed. Last year, for example, less than 3,000 hydrogen cars were sold in the USA. All sales occurred in California, as no other states have the necessary infrastructure. In Toyota’s home market Japan, sales of hydrogen cars have fallen by 83 per cent over the past two years to just 422 units in 2023. Toyota also faced a lawsuit over allegedly false advertising portraying its hybrid vehicles as being electric late last year.

toyota.com