Toyota Motor North America

‘Picky’ Gatik nearing mass-produced autonomous trucks

The struggles of autonomous truck makers to move beyond the testing stage are well chronicled. Seven-year-old Gatik, which owns the short-haul pickup-and-delivery “middle mile,” is an exception. By all indications, it has the money, the partnerships and the runway to reach mass production in 2027.

After discussing Gatik’s technology progress with Apeksha Kumavat, co-founder and chief engineer, on this week’s Truck Tech podcast, I caught up with CEO Gautam Narang. That followed Monday’s...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/picky-gatik-nearing-mass-produced-autonomous-trucks

Could autonomous trucks help save the planet?

It’s understood that autonomous trucks boost fuel efficiency compared to human-driven big rigs.

But the potential energy efficiency gains could be far greater.

In a white paper released Tuesday, Aurora Innovation looked at immediate, medium- and longer-term opportunities and found some obvious and not-so-obvious savings.

The headline factoid: Autonomous trucks could achieve 13%-32% net energy efficiency improvement per loaded mile compared to human-driven miles. It is a lot to digest. 

Aurora makes...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/could-autonomous-trucks-help-save-the-planet

ACT Expo a coming of age for hydrogen-powered trucking

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Not long ago, hydrogen and fuel cell trucks were lightly regarded at the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo. This year, they are capturing once unimaginable attention.

A parade of significant hydrogen-related announcements began even before what has become a must-attend event that outgrew its Long Beach, California, venue. Toyota Motor North America (TMNA), which doesn’t make commercial trucks, confirmed production later this year of a heavy-duty fuel cell system at its...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/act-expo-a-coming-of-age-for-hydrogen-powered-trucking

Toyota will build heavy-duty truck fuel cell modules in Kentucky

Toyota Motor North America will add a dedicated production line for heavy-duty truck fuel cell modules to its assembly complex in Kentucky, moving its zero-emissions technology from prototype to production.

Toyota (NYSE: TM) doesn’t make heavy-duty trucks. However, it is betting a market exists for hydrogen-powered fuel cell systems, which it initially created for its Mirai fuel cell passenger sedan. 

Combining two Mirai fuel cell systems creates sufficient power to move a loaded 80,000-pound...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/toyota-will-build-heavy-duty-truck-fuel-cell-modules-in-kentucky

Truck Talk: Hydrogen rising edition

This week we explore evidence that may soon demand a verdict on hydrogen as a transportation fuel, plus highlights from companies doing what they can to get on the right side of the business viability that Lordstown Motors said may elude the electric pickup truck startup. 

Time to get serious

Evidence is mounting that hydrogen as a transportation fuel is for real. From the Department of Energy to industry leaders in automotive, trucking and even oil, the picture is brightening for the future of...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/truck-talk-hydrogen-rising-edition