What you’re looking at right now is called the ‘Uno’, it is a utility tractor rig (UTR) and it is Toyota’s latest creation built to take on one of the most demanding jobs in the transportation industry.
Utility tractor rigs (UTRs), affectionately known as "yard dogs," are responsible for performing some of the most rigorous tasks at shipping ports by transporting freight from one area of the yard to another. These trucks assist in the preparation of cargo for loading onto trains, drayage trucks, and ocean freighters, as well as transporting cargo that arrives via rail or trucks. This type of work is characterized by frequent stops and starts, and it is highly energy-intensive, often involving the hauling of loads that weigh 120,000 pounds or more.
Don’t be fooled by the size of these rigs however, because while they may appear smaller in size compared to the heavy-duty rigs on highways, they are still designed to be exceptionally durable to take on the tasks they handle. These days, diesel-fueled internal combustion engines power almost every UTR, as well as other trucks operating within and around ports. However, Toyota chose to go against the norm by creating a fuel-cell electric UTR, which has earned the nickname "Uno." This vehicle is the first of its kind, and more fuel-cell electric UTRs are expected to follow suit in the future.
Toyota developed the Uno in collaboration with Fenix Marine Services, which was first unveiled in 2019 at the Port of Los Angeles. Following its successful trial run as a proof-of-concept truck at the port last year, the Uno has been moved to Toyota's Los Angeles Parts Distribution Center in Torrance, California. It has now been repurposed to transport a different type of cargo.
Interestingly, the truck's powertrain is based on the same fundamental system as the hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai, albeit with enhancements to support the hauling of considerably heavier loads. As for future prospects, Toyota has expressed interest in potentially serving as a Tier 1 supplier of hydrogen-powered fuel cell powertrains to other manufacturers. Under such an arrangement, Toyota would manufacture the fuel cell stacks, hydrogen tanks, as well as other essential software and hardware, while external companies would design and develop the commercial vehicles themselves.
“The results of these improvements will be a much more capable version of the hydrogen-powered UTR, bringing it closer to matching, or in some cases even exceeding, the performance of the carbon-intensive powertrains it will eventually replace.”
While the Uno has moved on from being a proof-of-concept truck, engineers over at Toyota are still learning more about the Uno’s capabilities as they move the Uno to a less stressful environment with lighter tasks over at its new assignment.
