Toyota forms hydrogen mobility JV with EU industrial gas major

Toyota’s European trading arm has formed a joint venture (JV) with industrial gas major Messer to produce and supply green hydrogen for fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) in Europe.

Dubbed SympH2ony, the Toyota Tsusho Europe (TTESA) and Messer Group business describes itself as a “one-stop-shop” for fleets looking to transition to zero-emission with plans to deliver hydrogen mobility solutions for the “complete fleet operation chain.”

With plans to provide service packages from the production and supply of green hydrogen to FCEVs including buses, trucks, taxis, port cargo handling equipment and more, the new JV will also provide optional on-site hydrogen production for users.

The JV announcement said it would offer services required for “reliable operation – tailored to the individual needs of the customer.”

“The option of billing based on kilometres driven by the fleet ensures calculable total operating costs,” it added.

Headquartered in Bad Soden, Germany, the company was officially launched on June 26.

“We offer private and public fleet operators the opportunity to safely achieve their zero-emission mobility goals,” said Tim Evison, Senior Vice-President Clean Hydrogen at Messer – who is also CEO of the new JV.

“SympH2ony overcomes obstacles such as technological uncertainty, economic complexity and capital availability,” he claimed.

TTESA’s Head of Next Mobility, Kenji Yamanaka, said the business will build and operate on-site solutions to allow European fleet operators to move away from fossil fuel systems.

Messer is among the biggest players in the industrial gas market. Earlier this month, Messer’s joint venture with the German district of Düren, broke ground on 10MW green hydrogen plant.