Toyota’s visionary pick-up scoops top industry award

A prototype hydrogen fuel cell-powered pick-up, which has been developed by Toyota Manufacturing UK at its Derbyshire factory has scooped a top industry award.

Earlier this year, the car giant unveiled the new hydrogen fuel cell electric Hilux prototype at its Burnaston plant.

The ground-breaking zero emissions pick-up has been developed by a consortium led by Toyota, with backing from the UK Government.

Now, the vehicle has been recognised with the What Van? Editor’s Choice Award.

James Dallas, editor of What Van?, said: “Hydrogen could make sense as the fuel of the future for pick-up trucks and Toyota’s UK-built prototype fuel-cell Hilux is leading the way.

“Battery electric vehicle technology might not be the best alternative to the internal combustion engine when it comes to tough, off-road vehicles such as pick-up trucks, particularly because of the need to fit a battery that could be vulnerable to damage.

“Could hydrogen be the answer? Toyota intends to find out and has developed a fuel cell prototype Hilux pick-up truck at its Burnaston plant in Derbyshire, which makes it a worthy winner of the Editor’s Choice Award.”

The £11.3 million project to create the vehicle, known as the FCEV Hilux, began in early 2022 with a feasibility study undertaken by Toyota Manufacturing UK and Toyota Motor Europe with consortium partners Ricardo, ETL, D2H Advanced Technologies and Thatcham Research.

£5.6 million of funding was subsequently gained from the UK Government through the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), a non-profit organisation supporting the development of cleaner technologies and new mobility concepts.

Prototype construction began on 5 June this year in a dedicated area within the Burnaston factory.

The first vehicle was completed just three weeks later, the first of 10 that will be built by the end of this year.

These will undergo rigorous testing around the world to ensure safety, dynamic performance, functionality and durability.