Please select your home edition
Edition
RS Sailing 2021 - LEADERBOARD

America's Cup: Toyota looks to leverage Fuel Cell opportunities off Chase Zero

by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World.com/nz 13 May 2022 03:26 PDT
Emirates Team New Zealand's Hydrogen powered foiling chase boat is launched from the team's base - May 2022 © Emirates Team New Zealand

Emirates Team New Zealand's foiling hydrogen-powered chase boat has attracted more than its share of cynics.

Neeraj Lala, Toyota NZ's CEO is not one of those.

"This is the first boat to be developed in the world using hydrogen technology. Experts said it would take three or four years, Emirates Team New Zealand have done it within 12 months."

"This project is already creating 'huge waves around the world amongst Toyota distributors globally, where teams like INEOS have approached Toyota Gazoo Europe wanting fuel cells. We're now talking to Toyota distributors around the world on what this technology is and how it can work."

"This project is the catalyst for us to secure fuel cells from Japan. We can offer the fuel cell technology in buses and use it to help to decarbonise the economy in the bus and transport area. This Chase Zero project is the catalyst for us to grow that side of the business.

ETNZ's Hydrogen Support Vessel doesn't use Toyota technology exclusively, and Lala explains that the Chase Zero project collaborates with several suppliers. It uses a Toyota fuel cell, but not with Toyota hydrogen tanks and batteries, which are sourced from other suppliers.

"This is definitely a Kiwi innovation that we believe can be taken worldwide," says Lala.

"Grant Dalton had the vision that these boats could be powered by Toyota Fuel Cell technology and built in New Zealand."

"We've believe that hydrogen fuel cell technology has several commercial applications in New Zealand."

"We don't see hydrogen providing an economic solution for light vehicles over the next 5-10 years. But in Commercial, it has a huge opportunity - which is what this Chase Zero project is all about," Lala explains.

He differentiates Chase Zero and its commercial use of Toyota's Hydrogen Fuel Cell technology as a completely different project from the NZ Government's much-vaunted trial of a fleet of eight hydrogen-powered cars to be shared by a group of NZ Government departments.

It is not hard to pick up his frustration that the recent NZ Govt trade mission to Japan touted the hydrogen-powered car-pool trial, without a mention of Emirates Team NZ's more significant Chase Zero and its use of Toyota's fuel cell technology. Toyota NZ rectified that oversight in a full page newspaper advertorial run the following day, which referenced both the Chase Zero and car-pooling projects.

Lala says it came as a very pleasant surprise that "we were able to secure two pre-production fuel cells for the project.

"Toyota Motor Corporation made them available because the integration is the critical piece to this. Global Bus Engines have been integral in connecting the technologies and ETNZ's Hydrogen Infrastructure partner Hiringa for providing the hydrogen.

"Toyota Motor Corporation has been very open to the collaboration."

"It can be used in buses, heavy freight, and aviation. As well as Commercial, it also has a Domestic application. With our renewal capability in New Zealand, there is a massive export opportunity for green hydrogen in New Zealand.

"We're seeing a lot of Japanese investment coming to New Zealand supporting green hydro generation in New Zealand," he says, rattling off the names of a couple of Japanese conglomerates Obayashi Corporation and Mitsui who have already invested in hydrogen technology in NZ.

"This is a Kiwi innovation that we can take globally," he adds.

Lala says the Toyota presented the fuel cell technology at last weeks Hydrogen Summit in Wellington. "We had a lot of interest and innovations from different industry sectors as to where fuel cell technology might be applicable to them.

"We are now determining which project is going to deliver the most social impact and focus on that. Unfortunately, we can't do everything," said Lala.

Related Articles

America's Cup: Confidential settlement reached
(Updated) A confidential settlement reached over five year Cup legal claims. Confidential settlement reached between the America's Cup team Emirates Team New Zealand and their formerly contracted Event Managers, Mayo & Calder, and others associated with the company. But what of Mainstream Media's role in the affair? Posted on 29 Jun
America's Cup - #3 Finish Line
The Cup is still undecided. And somewhere, in one last simulation, the universe holds its breath. The Cup is still undecided. And somewhere, in one last simulation, the universe holds its breath. Step into the last leg. This is where legends break — or rise. Posted on 23 Jun
Cup Spy: "Burling Rule" unlikely to be changed
The Defender is unlikely to soften the Rules and allow open season on its sailing team. Despite the shift of three times America's Cup winner, Peter Burling it is understood that there is unlikely to be any softening of the Nationality rule to enable Burling to get any closer to the action than a chase-boat in the 38th America's Cup. Posted on 20 Jun
Burling "excited' by Italian move
In a media statement issued by his Media Team, Burling says he remains fully committed to his role w In a media statement issued by his Media Team, Burling says he remains fully committed to his role with Black Foils, the New Zealand SailGP Team. Posted on 20 Jun
America's Cup: Kiwis advertising for key people
Emirates Team NZ seeking new people for key roles ahead of its 12th America's Cup campaign Emirates Team New Zealand, the current America's Cup champion is gearing up for the 2027 Defence of the most prestigious trophy in sailing. The team has advertised eight positions in the IT, Meteorology and Engineering areas Posted on 12 Jun
America's Cup: Another sponsor signs for Italians
Luna Rossa has announced that Unipol has renewed its trust in the team Luna Rossa has announced that Unipol has renewed its trust in the team and will accompany it as an official sponsor for the duration of the 38th America's Cup. Posted on 5 Jun
America's Cup fillibustered by Challengers
A Cup in turmoil - Protocol is unsigned - with entries due to open on Sunday. Updated story: America's Cup got underway in Rome on Monday, with Round 2 of the official welcoming ceremonies on Wednesday in Naples. However three teams are working in collusion and have again issued statements within minutes of each other. Posted on 29 May
America's Cup enthusiastically received in Naples
The Castel dell'Ovo, was the venue for the arrival of the America's Cup in Napes The Castel dell'Ovo, set on the tuft peninsula of Megaride was the outstanding setting for the Official Host Venue Presentation of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup. Posted on 28 May
Italian PM welcomes America's Cup in Rome
Prime Minister Meloni set out a bold vision for the regeneration planned around AC38 The magnificent setting of the Casino del Bel Respiro, commissioned by Pope Innocent X in 1644, in the grounds of Villa Pamphilj, was the outstanding and historic setting for the formal presentation of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup. Posted on 26 May
America's Cup: Big changes in crew line-up
Women and Youth crews to sail in AC75 in the next Cup - Final Draft of AC38 Protocol Historic changes are proposed in the Final Draft of the Protocol released by the America's Cup Defender. For the first time a Female and Youth crew members will be part of the six-crew lineup on board the all-electric AC75s. Posted on 23 May
Maritimo M600V-DRY-XZhik 2024 December