Portable hydrogen cartridge prototype developed

Toyota Motor Corporation and its subsidiary, Woven Planet, have developed a working prototype of the company’s portable hydrogen cartridge. The cartridge design is set to facilitate the everyday transport and supply of hydrogen energy to power a broad range of applications in and outside of the home. The prototype is being showcased at Super Taikyu Series 2022 Round 2, held at Fuji Speedway from 3–5 June.

Hydrogen cartridges provide a portable and convenient source of energy that makes it possible to bring hydrogen to where people live, work and play without the use of pipes. The prototype measures 400 mm in length and 180 mm in diameter, with a target weight of 5 kg. It is swappable for easy replacement and quick recharging, with volume flexibility that allows for a broad variety of daily use applications. As small-scale infrastructure, it can meet energy needs in remote and non-electrified areas and be swiftly dispatched in the case of a disaster.

Today most hydrogen is generated from fossil fuels and used for industrial purposes such as fertiliser production and petroleum refining — so to use hydrogen as an energy source in our homes and daily life, the technology must meet different safety standards and be adjusted to new environments. The Japanese Government is currently working on a range of studies to promote the safe early adoption of hydrogen, and Toyota and its business partners are excited to offer cooperation and support.

Together with ENEOS Corporation, Toyota and Woven Planet are working to build a comprehensive hydrogen-based supply chain aimed at expediting and simplifying production, transport and daily usage. To this end, Toyota and Woven Planet will conduct proof-of-concept trials in various places — including Woven City, a human-centred smart city of the future currently being constructed in Susono City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan — focused on meeting the energy needs of residents and those living in its surrounding communities.

Woven City will explore and test an array of energy applications using hydrogen cartridges, including mobility, household and future possibilities that are yet to be imagined. Together with inventors and those living within and around Woven City, Toyota and Woven Planet will continue to advance mobility over time by constantly developing more practical applications for hydrogen cartridges.

The ultimate goal of the project is to realise a carbon-neutral society where everyone can access clean energy, first in Japan and then throughout the world. Toyota and Woven Planet aim to develop best practices for incorporating clean hydrogen energy into daily life by conducting human-centred demonstrations in and around Woven City, teaching us how to best transform hydrogen into a familiar, well-used and well-loved form of energy.

Pictured: The prototype portable hydrogen cartridge.

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