How Vauxhall, JCB and Toyota are creating everyday heroes that’ll keep Britain running with their multi-fuel solution

SMALL van. Pick-up truck. JCB digger.

Three everyday heroes that keep Britain running.

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How Vauxhall, JCB and Toyota are creating everyday heroes that’ll keep Britain running with their multi-fuel solution[/caption]

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Mirai saloon’s innards find a new home under the pick-up’s bonnet[/caption]

Partly because they are brilliant at what they do.

But mostly because they are properly clean and eco-friendly.

The titchy Vauxhall Combo is electric.

The experimental Toyota Hilux and JCB digger are both powered by hydrogen.

Sorted.

I’ll repeat once again: We need a multi-fuel solution if we’re serious about Net Zero.

• Electric vehicles for our towns and cities.
• Hydrogen for the heavy lifting — that’s trucks, trains, buses, boats, construction equipment and vans that do long distances
• E-fuels for the stuff we drive today. We can’t just scrap 37million cars all at once.

The top bods at Toyota have been researching hydrogen fuel-cell technology for 30 YEARS.

They asked UK engineers to put the heart of a Mirai saloon into a Hilux to see if it works.

It does. And some.

Simple, fun, nippy

The result is a pick-up that’s smooth and quiet like an EV combined with the range and payload of a diesel.

It refuels as quickly as a diesel — and emits only water.

Now you might notice the low belly on this prototype.

Toyota’s third-gen fuel-cell tech will be smaller, lighter and cheaper, ­ allowing for the same ground clearance as a regular pick-up. A front e-motor will make it 4WD.

JCB is doing something slightly different by developing hydrogen combustion engines for its legendary digger — backhoe loader if you know your onions — and telescopic handler.

They can do everything the diesel-powered equivalents can do and will be seen working on building sites and farms soon.

Special projects director Tim Burnhope said: “JCB and Toyota are very alike.

“We look for better ways of doing things and have gravitated towards hydrogen as a practical zero-carbon fuel of the future.”

Now we come to the Combo Electric.

Delivery drivers, plumbers, painters, plasterers, dog walkers, gardeners, everyone who earns a crust with their hands, should try this £32k city van because it’s a cracker.

Just select D for drive and go. Simple. Fun. Nippy. No fumes.

PlayStation-style paddles adjust the regenerative braking levels, so if you’re good at anticipating traffic flow you’ll hardly ever touch the foot brake. We used 20 miles of range on a 50-mile trip.

There’s a digital rear-view mirror to see behind you and a bulkhead load hatch for long pipes. Payload is 759kg.

Just don’t bother with three seats up front unless the person in the middle has no knees.

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The experimental Toyota Hilux and JCB digger are both powered by hydrogen[/caption]

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The titchy Vauxhall Combo is electric[/caption]

The Combo Electric is made at the old Astra factory at Ellesmere Port alongside sister vans for Citroen, Peugeot and Fiat.

Electric versions of the medium-sized Vivaro will be produced at the Luton plant from next year.

Vauxhall, JCB and Toyota are cleaning up.