Toyota, Ford announce investments in clean vehicle manufacture, components
Sat 03 December 2022
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Toyota is leading a consortium to develop a prototype hydrogen fuel cell-powered version of its Hilux pick-up at the company’s UK vehicle plant in Burnaston, Derbyshire. The company has successfully secured UK Government funding for the project through the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC). Meanwhile, Ford has announced plans to invest £150m to boost its production of EV components in England.
Toyota says that the APC funding will enable it to develop hydrogen technologies for this specific vehicle market segment during the next three years.
The consortium is led by Toyota, working in collaboration with Ricardo, ETL, D2H and Thatcham Research. The project will make use of components from Toyota’s second generation fuel cell system (as featured in the latest Toyota Mirai saloon) to transform a Hilux into an electric vehicle.
Initial prototype Hilux vehicles will be produced at Burnaston during 2023. Once successful performance results have been secured, the intention is to prepare the vehicle for small series production.
Meanwhile, Ford has announced that it will invest about £150 million to expand production of electric vehicle components in England. The investment will increase capacity at Ford’s Halewood transmission plant by 70% to 420,000 electric vehicle power units a year. Each unit is comprised of an electric motor and gearbox that replaces the engine and transmission of a conventional combustion vehicle.
Ford announced plans over a year ago to convert the transmission-making facility near Liverpool to safeguard jobs as it aims to sell 600,000 EVs a year in Europe by 2026. Halewood is expected to supply power units for 70% of those vehicles.
Ford also recently announced plans to upgrade its Transit Custom model, Britain's best-selling van. The new Transit Custom will come in a choice of BEV, PHEV or traditional diesel powertrains. It will add choice to the burgeoning UK market for electric vans; in November, the market share of electric vans reached 8.1%.
Image: Courtesy Toyota
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