Toyota is committed to hydrogen and plans to unveil a new fuel cell in 2026. This third generation fuel cell will offer increased range and lower prices. However, there is a condition. Toyota currently offers two hydrogen passenger cars: the Toyota Mirai and the recently released Crown in Japan. The existing Mirai, which was launched in 2020 as a successor to the 2015 model, can be configured and ordered on toyota.nl.
During the Kenshiki Forum, Toyota’s Executive Vice President Hiroki Nakajima acknowledged doubts about the success of the Mirai, attributing it to the limited number of hydrogen filling stations. Despite this, Toyota remains dedicated to developing hydrogen cars, including the Crown and the Mirai.
The third generation fuel cell systems that will launch in 2026 promise an extended range, with Toyota aiming for a 20% increase. The company is also focused on reducing costs through economies of scale. They predict a 37% cost reduction with 100,000 fuel cells and a 50% reduction with 200,000 fuel cells.
Toyota views the battery-electric car as a significant price competitor and aims to lower the cost of hydrogen cars like the Mirai to make them more competitive. Furthermore, the European Union’s Fit for 55 plan will ensure more hydrogen filling stations on main European roads by 2030.
In addition to passenger cars, Toyota is also exploring the use of hydrogen fuel cells in other vehicles such as buses, trucks, and boats. At the Kenshiki Forum, they showcased a prototype of a Toyota Hilux with a fuel cell, incorporating the new fuel cell technology expected in 2026.