Toyota, IVECO Partner to Develop Next-Gen Hydrogen Fuel Cell Trucks

Key Highlights

• Toyota to supply the fuel cell system.

• IVECO will lead vehicle development and validation.

• S-eWay Fuel Cell targets over 900 km range.

• Combined fuel cell output stands at 300 kW.

• On-road trials are planned for H1 2027.

Toyota and IVECO have announced a new partnership under EMPOWER, an EU-funded Horizon Europe project focused on zero-emission heavy-duty transport. The collaboration will develop next-generation hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) for commercial trucking.

Under the agreement, Toyota will supply its fuel cell system, while IVECO will lead vehicle development, system integration and validation. The partnership combines Toyota’s more than three decades of fuel cell technology experience with IVECO’s expertise from hydrogen demonstration projects and real-world deployments.

IVECO S-eWay Fuel Cell Gets 300 kW Toyota System

The new IVECO S-eWay Fuel Cell will use Toyota fuel cell systems delivering a combined 300 kW output. The truck is designed to offer a driving range of more than 900 km and durability exceeding 25,000 operating hours.

Toyota brings fuel cell technology developed across mobility and industrial applications, while IVECO contributes its experience in developing and operating hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles.

Lighter Design and Improved Energy Management

Compared with IVECO’s first-generation fuel cell trucks deployed through the earlier H2Haul project, the new S-eWay Fuel Cell has received several major improvements.

The vehicle has a reduced weight and simplified architecture, while its battery capacity has been reduced to half of the previous generation. This has been achieved through a more efficient energy management strategy.

According to the companies, these improvements are designed to bring hydrogen fuel cell technology closer to the operational, economic and durability requirements needed for large-scale commercial transport.

Testing to Begin in 2026

Validation and testing of the new hydrogen truck are scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026. On-road trials are planned to start in the first half of 2027.

The programme will act as a pilot platform for a potential industrial-scale rollout of hydrogen-powered long-haul and heavy-duty trucks, supporting the wider transition towards zero-emission freight transport.

Marco Liccardo, Chief Technology & Digital Officer, Iveco Group, said hydrogen is an important part of the future energy and mobility ecosystem. He added that combining leading fuel cell expertise with advanced vehicle engineering can help unlock hydrogen’s potential and accelerate zero-emission heavy-duty transport.

Shinichi Yasui, Executive Vice President, R&D, Toyota Motor Europe, said hydrogen fuel cell technology has strong potential for high-mileage, heavy-duty operations because it can combine range, uptime and efficiency. He added that Toyota aims to demonstrate how its third-generation fuel cell system can support zero-tailpipe-emission logistics without compromising operational requirements.

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CMV360 Says

The Toyota-IVECO partnership marks another major step towards hydrogen-powered heavy-duty transport in Europe. With over 900 km of range, 300 kW fuel cell output and more than 25,000 operating hours of durability, the new IVECO S-eWay Fuel Cell targets demanding long-haul operations. Testing from late 2026 and road trials in 2027 could provide valuable real-world data for future large-scale hydrogen truck deployment.