Toyota Motor Corp. has developed a working prototype for a portable hydrogen cartridge that could one day be used for both inside and outside home applications.
Toyota, along with its subsidiary Woven Planet Holdings, will conduct a concept project in various places for the hydrogen cartridges including Woven City, a smart city being constructed in Susono City, Shizuoka Prefecture in Japan.
The companies will build a hydrogen-based supply chain aimed at expediting and simplifying production, transport and daily use. The trials will focus on meeting energy needs of Woven City residents and those living in its surrounding communities.
Hydrogen cartridges:
- Are portable and affordable energy to bring hydrogen to where people live and work without pipes.
- Can generate zero carbon dioxide emissions.
- Can be used to generate electricity in fuel cell systems or be used as combustion fuel.
- Are swappable for easy replacement and quick recharging.
- Weigh only 11 lb.
- Can meet energy needs in remote and non-electrified areas or dispatched in case of natural disasters.
Next steps
Currently, hydrogen is generated from fossil fuels and used for industrial purposes such as fertilizer production and petroleum refining. To make it applicable for daily home use, the hydrogen must meet new standards and in the future Toyota wants to create the hydrogen using very low carbon emissions.
Toyota said the Japanese government is working on a range of studies to promote the safety and adoption of hydrogen among consumers and make it commonplace, convenient and affordable.
The goal is to create a carbon-neutral society and give access to clean energy first in Japan and then globally. The companies will develop practices to incorporate clean hydrogen energy into daily life by conducting human-centered demonstrations in and around Woven City.
