Toyota Motor Corp. plans to use hydrogen carried from Australia by a Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. ship as early as next year for its hydrogen-powered automobiles.
Toyota wants to expand the number of firms who collaborate on shipments and create a low-cost, reliable supply network.
By the end of fiscal 2021, Kawasaki Heavy aims to begin trials in which the company would carry hydrogen created from coal from an Australian mine to Japan via the Suiso Frontier, the world’s first liquid hydrogen transporter.
By mass-producing and liquefying hydrogen at a cheap cost, Kawasaki Heavy claims it will be able to carry 75 tons of the fuel, enough for 15,000 fuel cell vehicles.
Toyota’s car was powered by hydrogen generated from Australian lignite in a five-hour endurance race that began on Saturday at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Mie Prefecture.
The gasoline used in the race was flown in from Australia by the automaker. The fuel was delivered to the venue via a hydrogen fuel cell truck after it arrived in Japan. During the difficult racing circumstances, the business hopes to enhance manufacturing and transportation difficulties, as well as the usage of hydrogen.
At a news conference on Saturday, Toyota President Akio Toyoda, who was one of the race drivers, stated, “It’s difficult to create a hydrogen society if the automotive industry is just on the side of users.” “In order to reach carbon neutrality, everyone must collaborate.”
“The cycle of the hydrogen society will be completed only when suppliers and users work together,” stated Kawasaki Heavy President Yasuhiko Hashimoto during the press conference.
