© Hino

Hino Motors will begin sales of its first fuel cell heavy-duty truck, the Profia Z FCV, in Japan on 24 October, marking the country’s entry into mass production of hydrogen-powered trucks.

Hydrogen seen as option for long-haul freight decarbonization

The launch underscores efforts by Toyota and its subsidiary Hino to position hydrogen in segments where battery-electric alternatives face limitations. Heavy trucks account for about 60 per cent of freight-related CO₂ emissions in Japan, making them a central focus of the government’s decarbonization plans.

Technical specifications and manufacturing

The 25-tonne Profia Z FCV, built at Hino’s Koga plant in Ibaraki prefecture on the same line as diesel models, uses two modified Toyota Mirai fuel-cell stacks, a lithium-ion buffer battery and six high-pressure tanks holding 50kg of hydrogen. The truck has a reported range of 650km and can be refuelled in 15–30 minutes — close to diesel refuelling times. Payload capacity is about 11.6 tonnes in dry-van configuration.

Hino’s rationale and early testing

Hino said in a statement that “when electrifying commercial vehicles, not only must they be highly environmentally friendly, but they must also be practical as vehicles used for business purposes,” arguing that fuel cells are best suited to long-haul transport requiring range and quick turnaround.

The company trialled demonstration models in 2023 with hauliers including Asahi Group, Yamato Transport, Next Logistics and Seino Transportation, accumulating more than 400,000km to test durability and operating costs. Initial sales will be through full-maintenance leases targeting Japan’s designated “priority regions” for fuel cell truck adoption such as Tokyo, Aichi and Fukuoka.

Commercial context and market outlook

Commercial uptake of hydrogen vehicles has so far been limited, with sales declining in key markets including China. Hyundai has been the exception, reporting stronger demand for its Nexo passenger car in South Korea after a model update. Hino’s move will test whether long-haul freight provides a more viable niche for hydrogen fuel cells, particularly as operators weigh payload and refuelling advantages against higher upfront costs and limited refuelling infrastructure.