- H2HQ teams to lead NA region's efforts to research, develop,
commercialize and sell fuel cell and hydrogen-related products
- Renovated facility provides a refreshed office workspace, with
plans to add features in the future, including a flexible
microgrid, customer education center and more
GARDENA,
Calif., May 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Reaffirming
its commitment to support fuel cell and additional hydrogen-related
products and technology toward a hydrogen economy, Toyota Motor
North America (TMNA) today announced that it is renaming the TMNA
R&D California office as its new North American Hydrogen
Headquarters (H2HQ). The office workspace at the new H2HQ was
recently redesigned for its teams working from research and
development to commercialization planning and sales of
hydrogen-related products and technologies. There are plans to add
key features to the H2HQ campus in the future such as a flexible
microgrid, sustainable customer education center and more.
"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 Motor Corporation reorganized its
hydrogen business in Japan to
create what it calls "Hydrogen Factory" with the idea to bring all
hydrogen-related work under one location and accelerate
customer-oriented product development and production in fuel cell
or hydrogen-related products. Then, Toyota Motor
Europe announced its own "Hydrogen Factory" with the aim to
further grow Toyota's hydrogen business and stimulate wider
roll-out of hydrogen ecosystems and infrastructure across
Europe.
H2HQ will drive North American-led hydrogen initiatives and
support the localization of global hydrogen-related technologies
and products that include light-duty fuel cell applications,
heavy-duty fuel cell opportunities, stationary fuel cell power
generation, port vehicle applications and more. The facility
already provides impressive research and development assets,
including Toyota's largest dynamometer (1.2 MW), a scalable test
bench for stationary applications, and a hydrogen fueling station
capable of providing fuel for both light- and heavy-duty vehicles.
Moreover, as part of its plans to remain and grow fuel cell
leadership, NA H2HQ will be home to several new projects in the
coming years.
"I'm very pleased that Toyota is building on its longstanding
commitment to California by
locating its North American hydrogen headquarters here in the
Golden State," said California State Senator, District 29,
Josh Newman. "The work done there,
along with green hydrogen initiatives throughout the state, is
propelling California toward a
dynamic, clean-energy economy which will also reduce carbon
emissions and foster environmental stewardship while extending
California's leadership in this
important space."
Construction has begun on a flexible microgrid that features
energy sources available today, including a 230-kW solar
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. The microgrid is
designed to support the campus' energy needs, allowing it the
ability to operate off-grid. The system is expected to be fully
operational by 2026.
"California has ambitious goals
to achieve clean air, carbon neutrality and a vibrant economy.
Toyota's investment to expand their research and development of
hydrogen fuel cell technology in our state is an example of the
innovation that will accelerate the development and deployment of
zero-emissions transportation options, particularly as we
decarbonize the goods movement sector," said CARB Chair
Liane Randolph.
In the future, Toyota's plans for the new North American
Hydrogen HQ will include a sustainable education center, available
for tours by reservation. The center will be a place for people to
learn more about Toyota's vision of sustainability and the role
that hydrogen will play.
30+ Years of Development
From creating one of the world's first mass market passenger fuel
cell electric vehicles in the Mirai, to applying and scaling
the technology now to other applications that can benefit from
zero-emissions, including heavy-duty transport, power
generation systems, and others, Toyota's research and
development with hydrogen fuel cell technology spans more than 30
years.
For much of that time, the Gardena office supported or initiated a wide
range of fuel cell electric projects. To share some recent
examples, the Fuel Cell Development (FCD) team was instrumental in
supporting the development of Toyota's light-duty Mirai, launched
back in 2015, and the team collaborated with industry partners to
help support infrastructure growth through the state of
California.
In 2017, to address decarbonization efforts at local ports,
Toyota's FCD team helped prove the scalability of fuel cell
technology after it acquired a Class 8 truck and fitted it with a
fuel cell electric powertrain consisting of two Mirai fuel-cell
stacks. This effort then led to a collaboration with PACCAR's
Kenworth brand to build 10 proof-of-concept trucks, trucks used to
support the "Shore to Store" ZANZEFF project that proved the
viability of hydrogen-powered fuel cells as a zero-emission
powertrain in heavy-duty applications. PACCAR and Toyota later
agreed in 2023 to pursue commercialization of the project, with
Toyota supplying the fuel cell powertrain kits from its
Kentucky plant as a Tier 1
supplier.
Most recently, Toyota has demonstrated a non-automotive
opportunity for hydrogen-powered fuel cell technology in stationary
power generation. Toyota and TRD partnered to build a stationary
unit to provide electricity at events where it was not readily
available, launching the first public activation at an LPGA Tour
stop where the unit supported the power needs of the event stage
and sound system. The solution provided clean, quiet power that was
proven to capably replace traditional diesel generators. Last year,
Toyota built a 1MW fuel cell electric generator for the National
Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado to support microgrid testing at the
facility. And finally, earlier this year, Toyota collaborated with
Kohler on a prototype stationary generator to provide backup
emergency power for Klickitat Valley Health hospital in
Goldendale, Washington.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in
North America for more than 65
years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation
mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than
1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America who have contributed to the
design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 47 million cars and
trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota's 14th plant
in North Carolina will begin to
manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With
more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker,
Toyota currently offers 27 electrified options.
For more information about Toyota,
visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.
Media Contact
Joshua Burns
Joshua.Burns@Toyota.com
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SOURCE Toyota Motor North America