The new truck, known internally as Beta, expands on Toyota’s first Project Portal test vehicle by increasing the estimated range to more than 300 miles per fill. Toyota has also added a sleeper cab and a fuel cabinet combination that further increases cab space without increasing wheelbase, according to an announcement. The truck is based on a Kenworth tractor, though Kenworth is not involved in the project.
With a gross combined weight capacity of 80,000 lb. and a driving range of more than 200 miles per fill, the 670-plus horsepower Alpha truck produces 1,325 ft.-lb. of torque from two Mirai fuel cell stacks and a 12kWh battery. Project Portal Beta maintains these torque and horsepower numbers, while also extending the range of the vehicle and pushing forward on other key performance metrics, according to the company.
“By evaluating the first truck in our test facilities and on the actual roads in the L.A. area, we made a list of improvements for the Beta truck build process and performance enhancements,” says Andrew Lund, chief engineer for the project. “We needed to move beyond a proof of concept, which the first truck accomplished, to something that is not only better than the original but is also more commercially viable.”