Fuel Cell Trucks in Toyota’s Logistics Operations

Toyota is putting its vision into practice, that hydrogen is one of the energy sources that can contribute to achieving carbon neutrality, and is switching from diesel to hydrogen fuel cell trucks in its logistics operations. To highlight this shift, the company welcomed selected media and guests to the Toyota Parts Centre Europe in Diest, Belgium, where it unveiled its roadmap for hydrogen mobility in logistics and shared insights from the daily operations of four fuel cell trucks launched in May. WaterstofNet was also invited and attended the event.

Toyota Motor Europe's parts and accessories network is an essential driver of its operations and is managed 24 hours a day by Toyota Parts Centre Europe (TPCE), based in Diest, Belgium. Toyota is currently prioritizing heavy-duty trucks as one of the most effective applications for hydrogen in long-distance transport—the segment that can help drive demand for infrastructure scaling. The company is currently testing its third-generation fuel cell stack, designed for heavy-duty applications, with significant gains in efficiency, durability, and power-to-weight ratio, offering new opportunities for industrial partners.

VDL Fuel Cell Truck Project

Toyota Motor Europe (TME) has entered into a partnership with VDL Special Vehicles for a project aimed at promoting hydrogen fuel cell technology in the logistics sector.

Since May 2025, Toyota’s 4 hydrogen fuel cell trucks have driven over 80,000 km on 4 routes (Diest <-> Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Lille, Cologne) across 4 countries, using 9 hydrogen refuelling stations. With stable hydrogen consumption enabling over 400km of real-life driving range, the initiative has already helped avoid over 80,000 kg of CO₂ emissions compared to diesel truck.

Next steps include:

• Boost fuel cell truck performance with Gen 3 Toyota Fuel Cell Module, offering higher power and improved efficiency

• Extend the range the driving range by increasing tank pressure to 700 bar

• Reduce refuelling time using a mid-flow twin dispenser

• Introduce the most in-demand specifications for TME’s logistics operations, including sleeper cabs, low-deck configurations, and low-cab car carriers.