INDIANAPOLIS—Hino USA was awarded a grant to assist its Class 8 hydrogen fuel-cell implementation into real-world operations at California ports, the Toyota-owned OEM announced during NTEA’s Work Truck Week.
The grant from New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), a Japanese governmental agency, promotes new technology for the energy and environmental sectors. The money supports a joint study through March 2026—a collaboration among Hino, Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Toyota Tsusho America Inc., Mitsui E&S Machinery Co., and PACECO.
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The NEDO grant aims to improve air quality through zero-emission truck technology around ports, where emissions burden already disadvantaged communities nearby. Improving the air around the ports is a major California initiative. Hino and its partners chose its hydrogen fuel-cell truck as the test subject for the project.
The team plans to demonstrate zero-emission operation generated by hydrogen power units in daily drayage operations in and around the Western ports. Hino will provide several of its prototype Class 8 fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEV), first revealed at the 2021 ACT Expo as part of a joint development effort with Toyota. Also included in the grant program will be monitoring and analysis of the operational and maintenance interval data to optimize the efficiency and safety of the vehicles by Hino and its partners.
Late last decade, Toyota partnered with Kenworth to develop that truckmaker’s Class 8 fuel-cell tractor, the Kenworth T680FCEV.
Hino leaders here at the Work Truck Show said they see the project as a viable contributor to its “Challenge 2025” strategy, which aims to lower Hino’s global emissions footprint through reduced GHG emissions.
