Toyota brings fuel cell technology to Iveco Trucks
Iveco is adopting Toyota's fuel cell technology. The partners are developing a new S-eWay Fuel Cell truck with a range of over 900 kilometers as part of the EU project EMPOWER.
The new fuel cell truck from Iveco is set to achieve over 25,000 operating hours.
Image: Toyota
After Scania announced just days ago that it is adopting Toyota’s hydrogen fuel cell technology, Toyota and Iveco have now announced their collaboration on the next generation of heavy-duty fuel cell trucks as part of the EU-funded research project EMPOWER. Toyota is supplying its third-generation fuel cell system, while Iveco is responsible for developing, integrating, and validating the vehicle. The Iveco S-eWay Fuel Cell will feature Toyota fuel cell systems with a total output of 300 kW. The range is expected to exceed 900 kilometres, and the lifespan of the fuel cell technology is targeted at over 25,000 operating hours.
Compared to the first generation of fuel cell trucks, which used a Bosch fuel cell system and was deployed by Iveco for the European H2Haul project, the new model promises improved energy efficiency. The vehicle weight has also been reduced, and the architecture simplified. Thanks to an optimised energy management system, the new S-eWay Fuel Cell reportedly requires only half the battery capacity of its predecessor.
For Toyota, Iveco is already the next European truck partner in a short space of time. At the beginning of September, the Japanese manufacturer announced a collaboration with Scania. This will involve equipping 40 trucks with Toyota’s current 300-kW fuel cell system, with real-world logistics testing set to begin in early 2027.
Toyota is also working with Sinotruk and the VDL Group on fuel cell trucks, as well as joining the Cellcentric fuel cell joint venture between Daimler Truck and the Volvo Group as an equal partner. This marks Toyota’s growing focus on expanding its fuel cell technology into the commercial vehicle sector.
At Iveco, insights gained from the EU’s H2Haul project are being incorporated into the new vehicle generation. Through EMPOWER, the focus is on improving performance, efficiency, and lifespan while testing the technology under real-world operating conditions.
Validation and testing of the new S-eWay Fuel Cell are scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026. Initial public road tests are planned for the first half of 2027, with the aim of gathering data to support future industrialisation.