Hydrogen is emerging as a promising energy solution for sustainable transportation as seen in Toyota’s portable batteries or the Hyundai Nexo’s full recharge in five minutes
The paths towards sustainable and zero-emission driving are diverse, and now point towards Hydrogen (H2) as an alternative fuel. The world’s major automakers, such as Toyota, Hyundai, Honda, and BMW, are already exploring hydrogen-powered vehicles.
Toyota’s newest innovation is a portable hydrogen battery. It puts an end to waiting for hours to charge or having to rely on finding charging stations. Just like carrying batteries, you can recharge your devices anytime, anywhere. Also, these cartridges have been designed to power appliances and serve as emergency backup power when needed.
They’re sleek, cylindrical, and ergonomic in design and can be recharged using renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. The first prototype, introduced in 2022, is a 40 cm long, 18 cm diameter cylinder weighing 5 kilograms when full, with an energy capacity of 3.3 kWh.
Another area of development for Toyota in hydrogen technology for automotive applications is through motorsports. Their GR Corolla H2, powered by a liquid hydrogen engine, has been competing in the 24-hour NAPAC Fuji SUPER TEC endurance race since 2023. This racing platform enables Toyota to develop and test components and technologies for future production vehicles.
Hyundai’s Nexo is another significant player in the hydrogen vehicle market. This production SUV boasts the most advanced hydrogen fuel cell technology on the market. The Korean firm has developed it by testing it under extreme conditions, such as -30°C in Sweden or nearly 900 km of range in the Australian desert.
The Nexo can be refuelled in two ways: a five-minute fill-up at a hydrogen filling station which provides a range of 666 kilometres (WLTP), or through regenerative braking, which captures energy during braking and stores it in the battery, thereby maintaining an optimal state of charge and extending range. The new Nexo’s exhaust only emits water vapour What’s more, it filters and purifies the air while driving, reducing particulate pollution.
