Toyota’s Hydrogen Sharing Network Targets Safe Hydrogen Fuel Creation and Home Storage

Dec 07, 2023 09:34 PM EST

PERSON DRIVING A CAR — (Photo : PEXELS/Sindre Fs)

A recently filed patent, Toyota's 'Hydrogen Sharing Network' aims to facilitate the safe production and storage of hydrogen fuel within the confines of one's home. This innovative network would employ smartphone and network app authentication to ensure the secure supply of hydrogen for Toyota vehicles.

Hydrogen Fuel at Home

As reported in Hot Cars, Toyota's Hydrogen Sharing Network system's design may incorporate features such as solar power and the utilization of water or natural gas sources for the sustainable generation of hydrogen gas, thus providing an eco-friendly refueling solution

The reported further stated that Toyota, one of the limited options for hydrogen cars, is addressing the challenge of insufficient hydrogen fueling stations in the U.S. with a new concept called the "Hydrogen Sharing Network," as per a recent patent filed on December 5th, 2023.

This initiative aims to enhance the versatility of hydrogen power sources and potentially resolve the existing infrastructure issue, enabling Mirai owners to conveniently refill their hydrogen vehicles at home.

Despite Toyota filing for this patent, the car manufacturer may never end up using it. The suggested network is a gigantic step forward because it would make it safe to make and store hydrogen fuel in one's own home.

Each hydrogen-fueled Toyota vehicle would undergo digital authentication through a smartphone and a dedicated network app, ensuring a streamlined and secure refueling process.
The system takes advantage of solar power to help produce hydrogen fuel, underlining its significance in the ongoing competition between hydrogen vehicles and electric vehicles (EVs).

Toyota's vision for this hydrogen network has been formally outlined through its application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The first-ever in-house fuel cell equipment is at the heart of this cutting-edge system.

The device is designed to perfectly fit in a home, and it even comes with a way to store the hydrogen fuel that is made. Additionally, Toyota envisions the inclusion of a "generation and distribution unit" responsible for the creation of fuel and its subsequent transfer to the fuel tank, ultimately supplying the hydrogen-powered vehicle with the necessary fuel.

Toyota's Hydrogen - Battery Innovation Continues

According to Yahoo News, The executive vice president and chief technical officer of Toyota was disappointed that the Mirai wasn't selling well and said that the lack of hydrogen filling stations was a big problem. Because of this, the company is now focusing on commercial trucks instead of passenger cars. The initial challenge faced by the hydrogen industry was often likened to a "chicken-and-egg situation," where both refueling infrastructure (the chicken) and fuel-cell vehicles (the eggs) needed to develop simultaneously.

Sadly, this coordination did not happen, which is what caused the problems the hydrogen car market is facing now.

Toyota is still committed to developing fuel cells, even though they have had some setbacks. They now think that the technology would work better in heavy haulage, marine, bus-and-coach, and rail uses. The company also stays interested in pickup trucks and works with BMW.

Meanwhile, according to a report by the Courier Mail, this major player in the global automotive industry renowned for its staunch support of hydrogen in consumer vehicles, has unveiled a prototype featuring a hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine for its HiAce van in Australia.