Toyota Launches New Headquarters to Advance Fuel Cell Technology

Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) has officially rebranded its TMNA R&D California office as the new North American Hydrogen Headquarters (H2HQ). This move signals the company’s commitment to advancing hydrogen-related products and technologies in the region. The workspace at the H2HQ has been redesigned to accommodate teams working on research, development, commercialization planning, and sales of hydrogen-related products.

The establishment of the H2HQ follows Toyota Motor Corporation’s reorganization of its hydrogen business in Japan last year, which led to the creation of the “Hydrogen Factory” concept. This initiative aims to streamline all hydrogen-related work under one location to accelerate product development and production in the fuel cell and hydrogen sectors. Additionally, Toyota Motor Europe has also announced its own “Hydrogen Factory” to further expand the hydrogen business in Europe.

The North American H2HQ will spearhead hydrogen initiatives in the region and support the localization of global hydrogen technologies, including light-duty fuel cell applications, heavy-duty fuel cell opportunities, stationary fuel cell power generation, and port vehicle applications. The facility is equipped with top-notch research and development assets, such as Toyota’s largest dynamometer, a scalable test bench, and a hydrogen fueling station for light- and heavy-duty vehicles.

As part of its commitment to fuel cell leadership, the H2HQ will embark on several new projects in the coming years. Construction is already underway for a flexible microgrid on the campus, incorporating energy sources like solar photovoltaic systems, stationary fuel cell generators, and battery energy storage systems. This microgrid will enable the campus to operate off-grid and is expected to be fully operational by 2026.

Looking ahead, Toyota plans to include a sustainable education center at the North American Hydrogen HQ. This center will offer tours by reservation, providing visitors with insights into Toyota’s sustainability vision and the pivotal role of hydrogen in achieving a greener future.