The company sees significant potential in using hydrogen trucks to decarbonise its logistic routes. The lower mass of hydrogen systems allows for heavier payload and the fast refuelling of hydrogen is essential for transport with high utilisation. Hydrogen can refuel a truck as quickly as diesel and the usage patterns of trucks with their demand for larger volumes of hydrogen position them as key contributors in maturing sustainable infrastructures around key routes.

VDL Groep will build the first fuel cell truck by the summer of 2023, followed by more vehicles to be produced and assessed on TME logistics routes in the autumn of 2023. The project will consolidate learnings on how to deploy fuel cell trucks, further supporting the company’s long-term vision of decarbonising logistics and reducing Toyota’s carbon footprint beyond the electrification of passenger vehicles.

Fuel cell trucks also have a key role in the growth of the wider European hydrogen ecosystem, strongly supporting transport decarbonization and an ecological energy transition. Heavy-duty vehicles are critical in generating a healthy supply and demand dynamic for hydrogen. The profitable feedback loop will stimulate the development of a sustainable infrastructure, while allowing other new mobility applications to emerge. The infrastructure for hydrogen trucks can simply be stretched to other  hydrogen vehicles that can use the same hydrogen refueling stations. This new truck project is one of many that Toyota has recently put into place with multiple partners, including those for light commercial vehicles, boats, trains and buses, with the goal of accelerating the transition to a hydrogen economy.

_{About VDL Special Vehicles}

_{VDL Special Vehicles is a specialist in the field of battery electric and hydrogen solutions for on- and off-road vehicles. As a contract manufacturer, we provide production capacity for small to medium-sized series of (parts of) zero-emission vehicles. In addition, we can also support in areas such as product development, prototyping, and certification of zero-emission drivelines, up to the extent of fully developing an alternative driveline for your application. VDL Special Vehicles enables its customers to Offer vehicle solutions that make the world a cleaner place. Our background lies in the development and production of chassis for buses and coaches in a variety of applications. It is because of this experience that we started developing zero-emission drivelines more than 20 years ago. This knowledge and experience have been used over the past two decades to develop various hydrogen and battery-electric solutions for medium and heavy road vehicles such as buses and trucks. Our engineering team is capable of integrating these and other solutions into existing third-party vehicles. Examples include construction, agricultural, port, or airport equipment. In addition, as a contract manufacturer, we offer third parties the opportunity to have their zero-emission vehicles produced in our facilities.}

_{VDL Special Vehicles is part of the international, industrial family business VDL Groep, with its head office in the Eindhoven Brainport region, the Netherlands. It was founded in 1953 and now, 70 years later, the third Van der Leegte family generation has been at the group’s helm since 2017. VDL Groep has over 16,000 employees and operates in 19 countries. The group comprises more than 100 operating companies, each with its own specialism, working together intensively. The activities of these companies can be summarised in the ‘five worlds of VDL’: Science, Technology & Health, Mobility, Energy & Sustainability, Infratech and Foodtech. The combined annual revenue in 2022 amounted to €5.752 billion. Read more on www.vdlgroep.com.}

_{For more information about VDL Special Vehicles, please contact:}

_{Sanne Beemster                                          +31 6 535 1022                                                                           s.beemster@vdlspecialvehicles.com}

TME’s Fuel Cell Business is looking to further expand into the wider commercial vehicle sector as a means to accelerate the growth of zero emissions hydrogen mobility. Specifically, it sees great promise in trucks, which are responsible for 77% of all freight transported on European roads. While the lower mass of hydrogen systems allows for heavier payload, the fast refuelling of hydrogen is also essential for heavy commercial transport with high utilisation. Commercial trucks usage patterns and their demand for larger volumes of hydrogen position them as key contributors in developing sustainable infrastructures. Globally, Toyota is already working with multiple truck partners to integrate fuel cell technology in heavy-duty transport. The ZANZEFF “Shore to Store” project in US, which started back in 2019, recently proved that fuel cell electric trucks can match diesel performance and provide a zero-emissions alternative ready for commercial deployment.

The partnership with Hyliko also marks another step towards TME’s vision for hydrogen ecosystems in Europe, stimulating both supply and demand to expand into viable business models. As hydrogen energy is a key pillar of Europe’s energy strategy, TME is prioritising the expansion of  different types of fuel cell applications within hydrogen ecosystems to support their growth. TME’s partnership strategy aims to develop synergies between the different business sectors and supports communities that want to further expand into fully fledged hydrogen corridors.

Hyliko will offer two models of fuel cell trucks: a 44t tractor and a 26t straight truck (available in 6x2 and 6x4 variants). Each of these vehicles will be equipped with two Toyota fuel cell modules. As part of its truck leasing offering, Hyliko plans to introduce its own green hydrogen infrastructure, including fuel production, storage and distribution.

About Hyliko

Hyliko is the first integrated decarbonization solution for road freight transport. To meet the logistics and road transport sectors new challenges, Hyliko offers a hydrogen mobility platform with a negative carbon footprint, combining the leasing and maintenance of hydrogen trucks, the supply of green hydrogen fuel and the management of carbon credits. Hyliko also offers tailor-made support and pay-as-you-go vehicles. A solution adapted to the needs of its customers for an accelerated and large-scale deployment. More information on www.hyliko.com