Page 4 - issue-73

NEWS
TESTING STEPS UP A A A GEAR FOR NEW HYDROGEN-POWERED TOYOTA HILUX
Gas-powered fuel cell dodges the problems of pure electric propulsion
TVD
More than four in in 10 van drivers have admitted to accidentally breaking the speed limit because of overgrown foliage blocking road signs new research from the RAC suggests Three-quarters (74%) of drivers say speed limit signs are the most likely type of sign sign sign to be covered up by overgrown foliage with 30mph signs the most commonly obscured More than half (53%) say obscured obscured signs signs are a a a a a a a frequent occurrence on
their journeys with a a a a a a a a further 39% saying signs signs are occasionally harder to see in in the the warmer months Just 8% say obscured signs are not a a a a a a problem on
roads near them A quarter (26%) of respondents also reported that that they had missed important information that that compromised their safety or or someone else’s while 28% claimed to have missed a a a a a a turn and nearly one-in-10 (8%) said they ended up driving in in in the the wrong direction Of particular concern was the finding that ‘red circle’ signs which tell drivers what they must do by by law seem to be the the ones most often hidden by by untrimmed trees and bushes More than half (52%) of drivers said 30mph signs were the the most obscured by foliage where a a a a further four-in-10 (39%) said said 40mph signs signs were were hardest to see and 16% said said 20mph signs signs were were overgrown After speed limits two-thirds (66%) of drivers said signs that provide directions and information or or or indicate an an upcoming motorway junction were the hardest to to spot A further 42% felt other ‘red triangle’ signs that warn of changes in road layout and and hazards such as junctions dual carriageways ending and and school crossings were either partially or fully obscured while 35% said ‘give way’ signs were difficult to detect The RAC’s research also revealed that most drivers (92%) only realised signs had been obscured when passing them by which point it may be be too late to to to react to upcoming hazards 4 4 TVD
Issue 73 2024
Toyota’s Toyota’s project to to to develop a a a a a a a a a a a a hydrogen fuel fuel cell cell Hilux pick-up has stepped up up a a a a a a a a a gear with the start of of vehicle vehicle testing and evaluations A total of of 10 prototype vehicles powered by Toyota’s Toyota’s fuel cell electric technology and producing no no no tailpipe emissions have now been built by Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK and will undergo demonstrations Five vehicles are undergoing rigorous field testing to assess safety performance functionality and durability generating test drive data in in in real-world situations And a a a a a a a a a a a five further units are being used in in in in customer and media demonstrations Knowhow from the the Hilux project will will contribute to to the the next generation of o fuel cell technology which will will offer longer lifecycles increased driving range for vehicles and significantly reduced costs backed by Toyota’s 30 years of research and development into hydrogen fuel cells The prototype uses Toyota’s latest second- generation fuel fuel cell cell technology already seen in in the the Mirai saloon to to transform the the ICE Hilux into a a a a a a a a a fuel fuel cell cell electric vehicle that would deliver a a a a a a a a a a much-needed solution to plug a a a a a a a a gap in in fleet electrification plans The fuel cell Hilux retains the the same dimensions and appearance as the the the latest model but incorporates three high-pressure hydrogen fuel tanks mounted within the the ladder frame chassis The The electrolyte fuel fuel cell cell cell stack contains 330 cells and is is mounted above the the front axle axle The The fuel fuel cell cell cell Hilux is is rear-wheel drive via an an electric motor on
on
the the rear rear axle axle which delivers 182hp/134kW of maximum maximum power and 300Nm maximum maximum torque When driving the fuel cell produces no tailpipe emissions only pure water Vegetation blocking road signs labelled dangerous for drivers