SimpleFuel is a small water electrolysis-based machine for hydrogen generation and filling that can produce, store, and supply the gas by making use of electricity generated from solar panels.
As such low-carbon hydrogen is produced from the electrolysis of water and can produce up to 99Nm3 per day (approx. 8.8 kg/day) of hydrogen, which is then supplied to seven or eight fuel-cell (FC) forklifts after it is compressed and pressurized.
With the increasing use of such forklifts at the plant, the hydrogen station has been running at the plant since March 2018.
In a two-pronged attack, the Japanese carmaker looks to help reduce CO2 emissions while helping to increase demand for hydrogen,
Also, the company intends to replace existing conventional forklifts with fuel cell forklifts.
This endeavour began at Motomachi Plant, with the introduction of two Toyota Industries Corporation FC forklifts in 2017, followed by an additional twenty in 2018.
This year, the Japanese Ministry of the Environment's "Subsidy for Business Costs, etc. for Measures Combating Carbon Dioxide Emissions (Project to Promote Low Carbon Social Infrastructures that Utilize Renewable Energy-based Hydrogen)" makes possible the introduction of SimpleFuel and an additional 50 FC forklifts.
Through the Aichi Low-Carbon Hydrogen Supply Chain Promotion Association, along with Aichi Prefecture and related local authorities and companies, Toyota is promoting the low-carbon footprint of the hydrogen supply chain as a whole through the use of renewable resources and the concept of "production, transportation, and use."
This plan to use hydrogen produced from electricity from renewable sources generated at Motomachi Plant has now been certified through Aichi Prefecture's Low Carbon Hydrogen Certification System.
Since the launch of the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050 in 2015, Toyota has been developing and implementing technologies by harnessing hydrogen energy, which is aimed at utilizing hydrogen at its plants to realize its Plant Zero CO2 Emissions Challenge.
Toyota is steadily working on various initiatives to reach this goal, including promoting the introduction and use of SimpleFuel and FC forklifts at its Motomachi Plant.
