A better kind of electric car? Toyota still sees big potential in hydrogen

A Toyota Australia executive says the company’s electric future might not rely entirely on traditional battery electric cars, as the brand is still investigating and investing in hydrogen fuel-cell technology.

Speaking to CarsGuide at a recent Toyota media event, vice president of sales and marketing Sean Hanley told CarsGuide the brand isn’t putting all its eggs in the battery electric car (BEV) basket when it comes to reducing emissions.

While Toyota has been criticised for being slow to the electric car game - it’s still yet to launch its first EV in Australia - Mr Hanley is determined to break the image that the brand is dragging its feet.

“We've got no choice because if we don't get to carbon neutral, we probably don't survive,” Mr Hanley said in an interview.

“Let us decide the technology to get to carbon neutral. And that's our obligation.”

While Toyota’s high percentage of hybrid sales in 2022 is a point of pride - a total 31.5 per cent - Mr Hanley says the company is still exploring the possibility that hydrogen could be an alternative pathway to BEVs.

“It’s not experimental but it's always being tested,” Mr Hanley told CarsGuide.

“So I guess in a way yeah, we do [see it as a pathway]. We see it as a big future.

“And, whilst we don't have concrete plans on anything beyond the Mirai, as I sit here today, we're certainly exploring opportunities with hydrogen, hydrogen fuel cells, hydrogen conversion, all of these things are on our agenda of testing and trialling to see the practicalities.

“The only thing stopping hydrogen right now, in my opinion, is infrastructure. 

“We can make it, but how you make it is important, of course, whether you make it through renewables or otherwise, but of course, you can overcome those things pretty quickly. 

“We have great resources of hydrogen. But the point with hydrogen is that clearly it suits vehicles that require heavier work.

“I mean, you're seeing big trucks in America now with hydrogen fuel cells, and they're doing a great job. 

“Imagine what you could do in a light-commercial vehicle, for example.

“It would seem to me, without being a technical expert… and on the outside, that hydrogen is a great solution for those vehicles you expect to do big range and heavy loads.”

Before the end of the decade, Toyota will have an electrified version of all of its models except its GR performance cars, which means there will be a Toyota HiLux with some form of hybrid or electrified power.

When asked if there’s a possibility that hydrogen could come out on top for the most popular vehicle in Australia instead of it becoming a traditional battery electric ute, Mr Hanley leaves the possibility on the table.

“They are all things we can look at. But they're not immediate things with hydrogen,” he said.

“I mean, there's a long, long, long way to go before we've got an infrastructure that would allow that. 

“And again, it wouldn't make sense for us to sit here and say, ‘we're going to do this tomorrow’  when we're saying basically, ‘you can't go to a full BEV tomorrow’ because infrastructure is low. The same applies. Nothing's changed. 

“Having said that, we're not opposed to it at all. In fact, we're probably one of the leaders in hydrogen fuel-cell technology. 

“And I think our investment probably is pointing to the future of where we see things. 

“Who knows ,it's exciting, but I think it is a credible solution, yes.”