Toyota presents new generation of its FC system

Toyota has unveiled its third-generation fuel cell system, which is intended for passenger cars, commercial vehicles, trains, ships, and stationary applications. The market launch is planned for 2026.

According to Toyota, the new generation is characterised by improved durability and efficiency, as well as cost reductions through innovations in cell design and manufacturing processes. However, the Japanese company is still holding back on detailed information. The press release only states that durability has been improved by a factor of 2 and efficiency by a factor of 1.2 compared to the second generation, “provides greater cruising range for further peace of mind,” according to Toyota.

However, Toyota has not yet given a figure for the “significant” cost reduction. There may be more information on the third generation in the coming week, as the fuel cell system will be presented at the H2 & FC EXPO (International Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Expo) in Tokyo, which begins on 19 February.

There are thus no concrete performance figures at present. The second generation, on sale since 2021, could be ordered with 60 or 80 kW per module, covering 400 to 750 volts. At that time, there were also two housing variants, a vertical and horizontal version. The four module variants (installation position and output) can be combined as required to flexibly adapt the system to the required output level and the available space. It is not known how many variants there will be in generation three.

The new generation will also expand the model range. Thanks to its compact design, the new system should be easier to integrate into various commercial vehicles, according to Toyota. “For passenger vehicles, the improved fuel efficiency provides greater cruising range for further peace of mind. For heavy-duty commercial vehicles, the new FC system offers a level of durability comparable to diesel engines and high power,” the press release states.

The third-generation fuel cell system will be introduced mainly in Japan, Europe, North America, and China in 2026. Toyota not only uses its fuel cell systems itself but also offers them to third-party customers. In the passenger car sector, BMW is a Toyota partner; in the bus sector, the Portuguese manufacturer Caetano Bus and Karsan from Turkey use Toyota systems. In the truck sector, customers include VDL, Paccar and Hyliko.

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