Toyota and IVECO have announced a collaboration under EMPOWER, an EU-funded Horizon Europe project focused on advancing zero-emission heavy-duty transport. Under the programme, Toyota will supply its fuel cell system for IVECO’s next-generation fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).
The collaboration brings together Toyota’s experience in fuel cell technology with IVECO’s expertise in commercial vehicle development and integration. Toyota has more than three decades of experience in fuel cell development and commercialisation across mobility and industrial applications, while IVECO will lead vehicle development, integration and validation.
The new FCEVs are being developed with improvements in performance, efficiency, durability and vehicle weight compared with IVECO’s first-generation fuel cell trucks deployed under the H2Haul project. The IVECO S-eWay Fuel Cell will use Toyota fuel cell systems with a total output of 300 kW. The vehicle is expected to offer a driving range of more than 900 km and more than 25,000 operating hours of durability.
The vehicle architecture has also been simplified through an energy management strategy that requires only half the battery capacity used in the previous generation. The reduction in battery capacity is intended to lower vehicle weight while maintaining the performance required for heavy-duty applications.
The companies said the improvements are aimed at addressing the operational requirements of long-haul commercial transport, including range, uptime, efficiency and durability. The development also builds on experience gained from real-world hydrogen vehicle demonstrations under the H2Haul programme.
Validation and testing activities are scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026. On-road trials are planned to start in the first half of 2027. Data generated during testing will be used to evaluate the technology under real-world operating conditions and support the development of commercially viable hydrogen-powered solutions for long-haul and heavy-duty applications.
Marco Liccardo, Chief Technology & Digital Officer, Iveco Group, said, “Hydrogen is a key enabler of the future energy and mobility ecosystem. By joining forces with Toyota through EMPOWER, we are investing in a long-term vision for heavy-duty transport, one that combines sustainability, energy resilience and operational performance.”
Shinichi Yasui, Executive Vice President, R&D, Toyota Motor Europe, said, “The transition to zero-emission freight requires technologies that can meet the realities of commercial transport. For high-mileage, heavy-duty operations, hydrogen fuel cell technology offers strong potential by combining range, uptime and efficiency.” IVECO will lead the overall vehicle programme, while Toyota will provide the fuel cell technology. The project is intended to serve as a pilot platform for potential industrial-scale deployment of hydrogen fuel cell technology in heavy-duty transport.
IVECO, a brand of Iveco Group, develops and manufactures light, medium and heavy commercial vehicles for a range of applications. Toyota Motor Europe oversees Toyota and Lexus sales, marketing, manufacturing and engineering operations in Europe and has eight manufacturing plants across the region. Toyota is developing fuel cell technology for passenger cars, buses, trucks, trains, marine and stationary applications. The company views hydrogen as one of the technologies supporting its carbon-neutrality objectives.
