Hydrogen-powered Toyota HiLux prototype rolls off the production line

Just nine months after Toyota announced it would build a hydrogen fuel cell-powered HiLux ute, the car-maker has showcased the first of 10 prototypes due to be built in the UK this year.

In December 2022, Toyota announced it would lead a group of UK suppliers to produce a fleet of hydrogen-powered HiLux prototypes – powered by technology from the Mirai hydrogen sedan – at its factory in Derbyshire, UK for two years, starting in 2023.

In a media statement overnight, Toyota revealed the first of its completed hydrogen HiLux prototypes, claiming the extended cab ute can achieve a driving range of more than 600km courtesy of its three high-pressure hydrogen storage tanks – located under the cab and tub.

The HiLux is powered by an electric motor which drives the rear wheels – though it’s not known if it shares the same 134kW/300Nm outputs as the Mirai – which is supplied with energy from a fuel cell stack mounted in place of the ute’s petrol or turbo-diesel engine at the front.

According to the car giant, construction of the prototype began on June 5 and was completed three weeks later – though it was not shown off for another two months until this week.

Toyota claims it will build nine more HiLux hydrogen fuel-cell prototypes in the UK this year, but it has not yet announced whether the technology will go into production for private buyers.

As recently reported, the Toyota HiLux is due to adopt mild-hybrid power in Australia from next year, mating a 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine with a 48-volt electric motor to help deliver fuel savings in city driving conditions. 

Toyota Australia has also expressed interest in adding a production version of the HiLux electric ute concept to its showrooms, but the model has not yet been confirmed to become a road-ready vehicle.

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