en.Wedoany.com Reported - Toyota Motor Corporation and Isuzu Motors Limited will jointly mass-produce Japan's first light-duty fuel cell electric truck. The new vehicle is developed based on the Isuzu Elf EV chassis and equipped with Toyota's third-generation fuel cell system, with production scheduled to commence in fiscal year 2027.
The Isuzu Elf EV was launched in 2023, featuring a modular battery pack design. A single battery pack has a capacity of 20 kWh, and the vehicle's total battery capacity can be expanded from 40 kWh to 180 kWh. This hydrogen fuel version retains the ladder frame chassis structure, with the core powertrain unit replaced by Toyota's third-generation fuel cell system.
Toyota's third-generation fuel cell system offers a 20% efficiency improvement over the previous generation, with a corresponding extension in service life. It is suited for urban logistics with frequent starts and stops, as well as intercity refrigerated transport scenarios. Hydrogen refueling time is comparable to diesel refueling, and vehicle operation achieves zero carbon dioxide emissions.
The two companies pointed out that light-duty trucks used in supermarket and convenience store deliveries often need to carry heavy refrigeration equipment. Pure electric solutions face the dual constraints of rapid battery depletion and long charging times. The fuel cell route addresses the demands of these commercial scenarios with shorter refueling times and longer driving ranges.
Isuzu and Toyota have previously collaborated on the ERGA FCV project, a city low-floor bus with hydrogen tanks integrated into its roof. Toyota's fuel cell systems have been installed in over 20,000 vehicles cumulatively, while global cumulative sales of the Isuzu Elf series light-duty trucks have exceeded 2 million units.
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