Project Portal is a project that commenced in 2017 by automobile company Toyota. It involves incorporating zero-emission hydrogen cells in shipping trucks. Toyota’s hydrogen cell technology is reaching its final stages as it enters the “soft opening” stage of public testing with different logistics companies.
In partnership with truck company Kenworth, Toyota announced its newly developed semi-truck with zero-emission hydrogen technology. By September of 2019, a total of 10 semi-truck dry runs are expected for deployment and operation within the area of Los Angeles. Three of the ten semi-trucks will make its debut with UPS. The rest of the semi-trucks will be distributed accordingly: one semi-truck for Southern Counties Express, two semi-trucks for Total Transportation Services, and four semi-trucks for Toyota Logistics Services.
For this testing stage, Toyota aims to gather data and analyze results from short-distance transportation of goods or drayage. Semi-trucks usually travel half the distance of typical drayage traveling range in one day according to Toyota. Efficiency is also a crucial factor during this testing stage besides eco-friendliness. Project Portal uses compressed hydrogen gas as a source of electricity for the semi-trucks and producing clean water as a byproduct instead of carbon gases. Similar to the Mirai hydrogen car, Toyota’s latest semi-truck model uses a blueprint and battery with enough juice for 300 miles of travel.
Shell, in support of Project Portal, committed to establishing fuel stations in California for Toyota’s semi-trucks and for other zero-emission service vehicles including forklifts and tractors which are being prepared for upcoming projects.
Logistics and transportation industries are significant contributors to carbon emissions in the globe who need the most attention before focusing on reinventing public and private vehicles. The United States alone has thousands of trucks that run on diesel. In 2050, the country might benefit from zero-carbon emissions from Toyota’s Long Beach facility.
