No more EV charging stations? Toyota unveils breakthrough hydrogen fuel cell batteries you can easily swap

Toyota’s hydrogen cell in a car render.
(Image credit: Toyota)

Toyota is thinking about how we'll power our cars in the future. Fossil fuel, electric, hybrid and now hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are some possible ways to go. Toyota has unveiled its portable hydrogen cartridges that could provide swappable power for future FCEVs at the Japan Mobility Show Bizweek 2024. 

Essentially, these large hydrogen cartridges look like oversized AA batteries, and they jack into your car (or other power-needing device) to provide power. When dried up, you can swap them out for a new cartridge to keep your stuff running. 

My colleague James Frew, who did his dissertation on EV and battery designs, pointed out that the best way to think of these tanks is like a propane tank that powers your gas grill. When the propane runs dry, you get it filled or swap in a new tank. 

Toyota's hydrogen cartridges

(Image credit: Toyota)

The issue here is that almost no one is making hydrogen vehicles (yes, Toyota showed off a non-standard race car powered by hydrogen, but that's not a consumer-focused option). On the other hand, an easier way to fill a hydrogen car (like Toyota's concept cartridge) could incentivize other car makers to get on board and move us towards hydrogen vehicles in the future.

The key aspect of Toyota's announcement is that the company reduced "the size and weight of hydrogen tanks, which were previously large and difficult to carry, to a size that can be carried by hand." Based on the rendering of the cartridge in a car, they don't look much larger than popular oversized Bluetooth speakers, which sounds like a big deal.

And it's not just cars — Toyota also cited using these cells to power your home or providing hydrogen to burn for cooking. Toyota and the Rinnai Corporation partnered to show off a concept stove that does precisely that, and it looks pretty impressive.

We're still far from using these cartridges in our cars and homes, but Toyota plans to work with companies to get these out there. "Toyota aims to find matches with the technologies and ideas of various companies and startups from a variety of perspectives, including both providing services and developing and selling devices using portable hydrogen cartridges. In doing so, Toyota will further strengthen its efforts to use portable hydrogen cartridges and help create a hydrogen society," said the company in a press release.

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Dave LeClair
Senior News Editor

Dave LeClair is the Senior News Editor for Tom's Guide, keeping his finger on the pulse of all things technology. He loves taking the complicated happenings in the tech world and explaining why they matter. Whether Apple is announcing the next big thing in the mobile space or a small startup advancing generative AI, Dave will apply his experience to help you figure out what's happening and why it's relevant to your life.

  • Falmer5
    Pretty pretty please, read up on the actual feasibility of hydrogen as a fuel source for land transportation before posting Toyota's public relations BS. It has been pretty clear for over a decade and a half in the zero emission vehicle industry that hydrogen for land transportation is wasteful and useless. Almost every aspect of using an hydrogen powered EV is plagued by major issues, with perhaps the only exception of the fuel cell being small and quick to refill. It is now well known within the industry that Toyota's public relation effort with hydrogen fuel cells for electric cars are just a decoy to avoid having to clean up their car offering.
    Reply
  • James Frew
    Falmer5 said:
    Pretty pretty please, read up on the actual feasibility of hydrogen as a fuel source for land transportation before posting Toyota's public relations BS. It has been pretty clear for over a decade and a half in the zero emission vehicle industry that hydrogen for land transportation is wasteful and useless. Almost every aspect of using an hydrogen powered EV is plagued by major issues, with perhaps the only exception of the fuel cell being small and quick to refill. It is now well known within the industry that Toyota's public relation effort with hydrogen fuel cells for electric cars are just a decoy to avoid having to clean up their car offering.
    Totally agree that we're not likely to see a big switch to hydrogen vehicles any time soon, especially as it's been technically possible for a long time and has not really picked up. And while many concept demos either go nowhere or become vaporware, the idea of a easily replenished hydrogen capsule, even for uses other than transport, is still an interesting idea.
    Reply
  • grumpygrover
    Toyotas only innovation in the last decade had been phantomwear and recycled press releases which zero relationship with truth or reality
    From 'self charging' batteries to 'fully solid state batteries' and now soda stream style hydrogen refills.
    This is beyond stupid
    Reply