Toyota and ENEOS team up to develop hydrogen fuel-cell system in Japan

Japanese automotive giant, Toyota has reportedly tapped Japanese oil & energy corporation, ENEOS, to explore the field of hydrogen-based power to help with the development of a hydrogen fuel-cell system that would power Woven City, Japan’s futuristic prototype city.

According to reports, the proposed vision for the new 175-acre city is to develop a fully-connected energy ecosystem that is fueled by hydrogen-based fuel cells. It is reported that people would work and live amongst all projects of Toyota, which includes the company’s autonomous e-Palette shuttles as well as robots.

The collaboration was announced by Woven Planet, Toyota’s innovation-oriented subsidiary that is also in charge of this project. According to the official announcement, ENEOS, the renowned Japanese petroleum enterprise that is already heavily investing in hydrogen, would help Toyota realize its futuristic “human-centered” city. The new collaboration would not only highlight’s Toyota’s inclination towards hydrogen, but could also help Japan attain carbon neutrality by the end of 2050.

Supposedly, the two firms would work closely to test and assess the overall feasibility of establishing a supply chain that is hydrogen-based, all the way from production to delivery and usage. In an effort to facilitate this vision, ENEOS would further its own technological developments within the field of hydrogen production so as to achieve a supply chain that is completely carbon-free.

Akio Toyoda, Toyota Motor Corporation President and CEO, stated that as Japan’s pioneering integrated energy enterprise, ENEOS has showcased its valuable expertise within all crucial processes, from production to sales of hydrogen, and Toyota is confident that they share the same holistic perspective for success.

Toyoda, further added that in order to realize a society that is hydrogen-based, it is important to integrate every production, delivery, and use process seamlessly while focusing towards evolving individual technologies.

Under its Woven City partnership, ENEOS would use its experience in operating over 45 commercial hydrogen-based refueling stations within four prominent metropolitan areas of Japan to set up one outside of the new Woven City.

Source credit: https://techcrunch.com/2021/05/10/toyota-partners-with-eneos-to-explore-a-hydrogen-powered-woven-city/