Industry News | Toyota's third-generation hydrogen fuel cell system is showcased for the first time in Tokyo
On February 19th, the Tokyo International Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Expo (H2&FC EXPO) opened, and Toyota showcased its third-generation hydrogen fuel cell system (3rd Gen FC System). This system can be installed in various commercial vehicles, passenger cars, and general applications, such as fixed generators, railways, and ships. The plan is to launch in markets such as Japan, Europe, North America, and China as early as after 2026.
According to media reports, the main features of the third-generation fuel cell system are as follows:
Durability improvement: The durability has doubled compared to the previous generation, achieving durability comparable to diesel engines and realizing maintenance free design.
Fuel efficiency improvement: Fuel efficiency has increased by 1.2 times compared to the previous generation, and the range has increased by 20%.
Significant cost reduction: By innovating battery design and manufacturing processes, costs are significantly reduced.
Toyota attaches great importance to the Chinese market
On June 5, 2020, six companies including FAW, Dongfeng, GAC, BAIC, Yihuatong, and Toyota Motor Corporation established "United Fuel Cell System Research and Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd." (FCRD). The company's main business is to carry out research and development of commercial vehicle fuel cell systems in China, with Toyota and Yihuatong as the main players, jointly funded by various companies.
In June 2021, Toyota Motor Corporation and Yihuatong established Huafeng Fuel Cell Co., Ltd., with each party holding 50% of the shares, mainly selling fuel cell systems developed by FDRD.
On November 4, 2024, three years later, Shudao Equipment announced that Shudao Group and Shudao Equipment had signed a "Hydrogen Industry Cooperation Agreement" with Toyota Motor and Toyota China, intending to deepen cooperation in areas such as hydrogen fuel cells, hydrogen storage, hydrogen production, hydrogen refueling stations, hydrogen distributed power generation, hydrogen industry funds, and financial cooperation, jointly committed to promoting green transportation, energy conservation and emission reduction, and sustainable development, achieving win-win results.
On February 5, 2025, Jinshan District, Shanghai and Toyota China both announced that Toyota would establish a research and production company for Lexus pure electric vehicles and batteries in Jinshan District, Shanghai. According to the press release, "With the guidance and support of relevant departments, both parties will radiate from Shanghai to the Yangtze River Delta region and beyond, and carry out various measures including logistics networks, cooperation between upstream and downstream related enterprises in the industrial chain, advanced technology applications in hydrogen energy, intelligent autonomous driving, battery recycling and reuse, and other fields. Together, they will create a carbon neutral leading model project with influence in China and even globally, and help achieve the goal of green and low-carbon transformation
Article source: Reprinted from Orange