Toyota continues to focus on hydrogen

A certain persistence can not be denied Toyota. For our hybrid technology, we have also been laughed at in the beginning, says Ferry M.M. Franz, Director Hydrogen Affairs at Toyota. What began in 1997 with the Prius, today is indeed standard, not only for the Japanese manufacturer. And so it goes from Toyota, it will also come with hydrogen (H2).

of stationary fuel to buses

In the H2-minded Japan, explains Franz, is one already full-line . The way to mass product provides many applications before: Stationary fuel cells for home use, which then serve as small cogeneration units, buses (here Toyota maintains a partnership with the Portuguese manufacturer Caetano), trucks (an area Hino is active in the Toyota commercial vehicle subsidiary and one with the US truck specialists Kenworth working together) and finally cars. In Germany, Toyota holds the Mirai (from 63,900 euros) H2 flag high, the sedan represents together with the crossover Hyundai Nexo (from 77,290 euros) still lean fuel-cell range.

patents released

Fuel Cell Bus: Toyota has worked as a technology supplier for Caetano. Manufacturer

That technology is established on a larger scale in the future, is certainly in the interest of the Japanese. And so you have free released for competitors all patents in respect of hydrogen and fuel cell. After they have gradually done their homework in terms of battery electric vehicles (BEVs), in fact, other car manufacturers explore the hydrogen. Just a few examples: BMW plans for 2022 a small series of IX5 hydrogen, Renault will launch light in the next year, three commercial vehicles with F-Cell, beginning with the Van Master H2-TECH, and out of the parking Antis Group is the trio Peugeot e-Expert hydrogen, Citroën Jumpy ë-hydrogen and Opel Vivaro e-hydrogen.

take over completely is hydrogen, with alternative drive not however. We believe in coexistence, says Franz BEV so for the urban area, hybrids and plug-in hybrids for the middle and long distance, Fuel-Cells primarily for the commercial vehicle sector. Here there are the greatest opportunities for the fuel cell because unlike the BEVs no heavy battery limits the payload .

There are still question mark

There are also question mark, however. The station network is still dünnmaschig, even if we want to crack the 100 mark in Germany this year, as Sybille Riepe announced by the operator H2Mobility. Moreover, the production cost of hydrogen lot of electricity, and in the drive power only 60 percent are in the energy originally used, which also should usefully come from renewable sources.

The common methods to produce hydrogen, the electrolysis. Water is split using electricity into hydrogen and oxygen, We are now so far as to produce hydrogen on an industrial scale from renewable energy sources , sends project developer Martin Schneider of Siemens Energy a positive signal. However, you will find these green sources in the wind and sun-starved Germany before limited. The situation is different in the equatorial sun belt , where the hydrogen production can thus take place under more reasonable conditions.

The method of Erlangen

can be stored on the question of how the H2 on site and then comes to us has the Erlangen-based company Hydrogenious found an answer, the conditions such as high pressure or cryogenic temperatures needed for it neither special tanks nor vices or ships meet , LOHC (Liquid Organic Carrier hydrogen) is called the relevant technology: The hydrogen is chemically bonded to an oil; The so obtained product is neither flammable and explosive, it can be stored without high expenditure on safety and transported. In addition to a Einspeicheranlage at the place of H2 production is another to destaging necessary where the hydrogen is finally applies insofar a gas station or an industrial site, for example.

Hydrogen green : LOHC-Einspeicheranlage. LOHC

Ecologically unproductive, it is, of course, to convey the LOHC over thousands of kilometers with diesel trucks or ship operated oil tankers. Perspective but could take on fuel-carriers. Another approach is the combination with pipelines. Through them, the hydrogen could flow over the long distance, then it would pass through a LOHC-Einspeicheranlage and then - find the remaining way to the end use, to be stored again in order there - bound in the mixture.

The procedure is already applied in the US or in Finland. And in Erlangen there is a test run immediately before: there will soon be opening a H2 petrol station, which is supplied by Hydrogenious via LOHC technology with a small amount of hydrogen produced in their own electrolysis and with solar power from the roof. Big Bang in Paris Back to Toyota: Toyota had planned the very large surcharge in terms of hydrogen for the Olympic Summer Games in Tokyo 2020. The 2021 posted games were known to take place under restricted and little public-effective conditions. Corona has been a setback, says Ferry M.M. Franz. Now the Hydrogen Specialist on Paris 2024: This is the Big Bang .