IVECO and Toyota are combining their respective fuel cell and heavy-duty vehicle expertise to develop the next generation of hydrogen-powered trucks, with the companies targeting improvements in range, efficiency, durability and vehicle weight.
The collaboration will see Toyota supply its latest fuel cell system for IVECO’s new-generation fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), while IVECO will lead vehicle development, system integration and validation.
The project is being delivered through EMPOWER, an EU-funded Horizon Europe initiative focused on zero-emission heavy-duty transport. However, the technology being developed has wider relevance for commercial vehicle operators, particularly in long-haul applications where range, payload, refuelling time and vehicle utilisation are key considerations.
Step forward from first-gen
The new IVECO S-eWay Fuel Cell represents a substantial step forward from the first-generation fuel cell trucks deployed by IVECO through the H2Haul project.
Toyota’s fuel cell system delivers a combined output of 300kW, helping the truck achieve a driving range of more than 900km. At the same time, durability has been increased to more than 25,000 operating hours, addressing one of the critical requirements for high-utilisation heavy-duty fleets.
The vehicle also uses a smaller battery than its predecessor, with battery capacity reduced by half. This is enabled by a more efficient overall energy management strategy and a simplified vehicle architecture. Alongside the reduction in battery capacity, the new generation also benefits from lower vehicle weight.
For fleet operators, these developments are significant because the viability of hydrogen fuel cell trucks depends not simply on zero tailpipe emissions, but on their ability to deliver commercial levels of range, reliability, payload and operating availability.
Toyota is contributing more than 30 years of fuel cell development and commercialisation experience across mobility and industrial applications. IVECO, meanwhile, is responsible for integrating the technology into a heavy-duty vehicle and validating its performance under real operating conditions.
Marco Liccardo, Chief Technology & Digital Officer, Iveco Group, commented: “Hydrogen is a key enabler of the future energy and mobility ecosystem. By joining forces with Toyota through EMPOWER, we are investing in a long-term vision for heavy-duty transport, one that combines sustainability, energy resilience and operational performance. Through EMPOWER, we are bringing together leading fuel cell expertise and advanced vehicle engineering to help unlock the full potential of hydrogen and drive the evolution of zero-emission heavy-duty transport. Together, we aim to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission solutions and contribute to redefining how goods move in the decades ahead,”
Shinichi Yasui, Executive Vice President, R&D, Toyota Motor Europe, added: “The transition to zero-emission freight requires technologies that can meet the realities of commercial transport. For high-mileage, heavy-duty operations, hydrogen fuel cell technology offers strong potential by combining range, uptime and efficiency. By working together with IVECO, we aim to demonstrate how Toyota’s third-generation fuel cell system can help customers move towards zero-tailpipe emission logistics without compromising operational needs.”
Testing and validation are due to begin in the fourth quarter of this year, with on-road trials planned for the first half of 2027. The programme will assess the vehicle in demanding real-world conditions and generate operational data to support future commercialisation and industrial-scale production.
Collaboration highlights Hydrogen’s potential
The collaboration highlights the potential of hydrogen fuel cell technology for heavy-duty transport where long operating distances and high vehicle utilisation can make energy density and range particularly important.
IVECO is also contributing a battery-electric truck demonstrator to EMPOWER, reflecting its multi-energy strategy. For the commercial vehicle sector, however, the fuel cell development provides a particularly relevant test of whether hydrogen can combine long range, durability and operational efficiency in a package suitable for demanding heavy-duty applications.
The results from the trials will help determine the technology’s readiness for broader deployment and provide further insight into the role hydrogen could play alongside battery-electric and other low-carbon powertrains in future freight operations.
