IVECO and Toyota are joining forces to develop next-generation heavy-duty trucks powered by hydrogen fuel cells as part of the EU-funded EMPOWER project.

This strategic partnership brings together complementary expertise to advance fuel cell technology. The aim is to deploy this new technology in heavy-duty transport through systematic implementation and validation in real-world customer operations.

The partnership is part of the European EMPOWER project, funded under the Horizon Europe programme, which aims to accelerate the development of zero-emission transport solutions.

Toyota is contributing its most advanced fuel cell technology to the project, built on more than three decades of innovation, research and development, and commercialisation across mobility and industrial applications.

IVECO is leading the overall development, integration and validation of the vehicles, drawing on its pioneering role in sustainable transport and its experience gained through key hydrogen technology projects and real-world demonstrations.

The new IVECO S-eWay Fuel Cell uses a fuel cell system with a total output of 300 kW, offers a range of more than 900 km and an operating life of over 25,000 hours. Thanks to its optimised architecture and energy management, battery capacity has been reduced by half compared with the previous generation, also reducing the vehicle’s weight.

The first tests are planned for the fourth quarter of 2026, while road testing will begin in the first half of 2027. The aim is to validate the technology under real-world conditions and contribute to the development of hydrogen solutions for long-haul and heavy-duty transport.