Photo Credit: Toyota
This week, Toyota Motor Corporation plans to unveil its portable hydrogen cartridges at Japan Mobility Bizweek to promote co-creation with startups and other companies realizing a hydrogen economy.
Cultivated through the development of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), these cartridges store hydrogen, which is then converted into electricity through a fuel cell to power EVs and other devices. Initially developed by Toyota’s subsidiary, Woven Planet, these new portable hydrogen cartridges are more lighter, compact, and convenient to transport since the first prototype in 2022.
Designed like oversized AA batteries, these cartridges reduce the size and weight of hydrogen tanks that are typically large and difficult for the average consumer to carry, making them compact devices that can be carried by hand.
Benefits of Using Hydrogen Cartridges
One of the major benefits of hydrogen cartridges is their potential to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. By providing instant energy, consumers may no longer need to rely on limited EV charging stations and hydrogen fueling stations with long wait times. Other benefits of hydrogen cartridges include:
- Portable, affordable, and convenient energy that makes it possible to transport and consume hydrogen without the use of pipelines,
- Swappable power for easy replacement and quick recharging,
- Volume flexibility for a wide variety of daily-use applications, and
- Small-scale infrastructure can meet energy needs in remote and non-electrified areas and be swiftly dispatched in the case of a disaster
Looking Ahead
Although a concept for now, Toyota hopes these lightweight hydrogen cartridges can provide swappable, portable power solutions for next-generation FCEVs and help familiarize hydrogen as a safe energy source for everyday use.
Imagine new hydrogen cartridges delivered alongside food and other items, with the spent cartridges retrieved and refilled. As a result, Toyota is looking to find company matches at Japan Mobility Bizweek with various technologies and ideas, including service provision and developing and selling devices using portable hydrogen cartridges.
While challenges such as safety and cost remain, this clean energy innovation holds exciting potential for transforming how consumers power vehicles, home appliances, and everyday objects on the go.
