MANILA: Honda Motor Corporation and Isuzu Motors Limited started testing their co-developed fuel-cell-powered heavy-duty truck on public roads in Japan.

The Giga Fuel Cell will undergo testing until September while the two automakers continue collecting data, acquiring knowledge, and determining technical issues. This will help them prepare for the truck’s market introduction in 2027.

Among the key points tested are the practicality of the heavy-duty fuel-cell truck in cargo handling and public road driving, vehicle operation management including hydrogen refueling, and the market compatibility of heavy-duty trucks.

Honda and Isuzu believed that the use of fuel cells that run on hydrogen will help heavy-duty trucks achieve carbon neutrality despite driving long distances and carrying heavy loads. Since the signing of an agreement in 2020, the two companies have been working on verifying the compatibility of the fuel cell system and heavy-duty trucks as well as laying the groundwork for fundamental technologies like vehicle control technologies.

The prototype model used in the ongoing testing is the same type as the one displayed at Isuzu’s booth at the Japan Mobility Show 2023. It features the Lowdeck 8x4 rigid truck configuration that is typically seen on trucks used for intercity trips. It is equipped with a lithium-ion battery and has a range of 800 kilometers with zero emission. The Giga Fuel Cell also comes with an external power output function that allows it to supply power to electronic devices when needed, such as in times of emergency or disaster.

Photos from Honda Motor Corporation, Isuzu Motors Limited, and Ruben Manahan IV

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