Toyota and JAF Partner on Next-Gen Roadside Assistance for EVs and FCVs

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Toyota and JAF Partner on Next-Gen Roadside Assistance for EVs and FCVs

Toyota Motor Corp. is developing a specialized service vehicle that will supply hydrogen and electricity to stranded electric and fuel-cell vehicles. This will eliminate the need to call a tow truck.

The service will be tested in collaboration with the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) starting in 2025. The trial will take place on public streets within a designated zone, due to regulations surrounding hydrogen transportation.

The service vehicle is based on a compact fuel-cell truck that can carry up to 10 kilograms of hydrogen and is equipped with a machine to send hydrogen to inoperable cars on site. It can supply enough hydrogen for a 100-kilometer journey in 10 minutes.

The truck also has a quick-charger that can power an electric car to travel 50 kilometers in 10 minutes. Additionally, it carries 10 liters of gasoline and diesel fuel to assist vehicles that have run out of fuel.

The service truck will also offer typical roadside assistance, such as flat tire repair and dead battery charging.

In 2023, the JAF assisted 6,679 motorists facing fuel shortages on expressways. As the number of electric vehicles increases, the number of drivers experiencing battery depletion is also expected to rise.

Toyota and the JAF plan to deploy the support truck to areas around major urban regions once restrictions on hydrogen handling are relaxed.

"The sole possible option for fuel-cell vehicles with no hydrogen is towing them away for now," said Toyota Vice President Hiroki Nakajima. "We will be going all out to create an environment where drivers can operate with no anxieties.