Sasol and Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) today announced the formation of a partnership to commence exploration of the development of a green hydrogen mobility ecosystem in South Africa.

Sasol and TSAM will jointly pursue the development of a proof-of-concept demonstration for a green hydrogen mobility ecosystem. The parties intend to develop a mobility corridor and expand the demonstration to a pilot project using one of South Africa’s main freight corridors, such as the N3 route between Durban and Johannesburg, for hydrogen powered heavy-duty long-haul trucks.

Underpinning the partnership is Sasol’s broad experience in the production, use and marketing of grey hydrogen and aspiration to play a leading role in the establishment of a green hydrogen economy for South Africa, combined with Toyota being a leading global supplier of zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell (FC) vehicles.

An enabler for this strategic intent is the expansion of the partnership between Sasol and TSAM to include other companies and stakeholders along the hydrogen mobility value chain. This is to allow industry to gain valuable first-hand knowledge of hydrogen refuelling stations, the introduction of hydrogen into the heavy duty truck supply chains and the commercial drivers underpinning the hydrogen mobility value chain.

“To unlock green hydrogen opportunities, we are pursuing various demonstration opportunities and partnerships, as with Toyota, with the intent of enabling and taking advantage of technology developments and breakthroughs,” said Fleetwood Grobler, Sasol President and CEO.

“Our partnership with Toyota, which will include other partners over time, aims to build a sustainable end-to-end infrastructure for hydrogen mobility, initially focused on piloting the concept,” said Grobler.

“Toyota envisages this partnership will also create the environment for others to get involved in the hydrogen mobility value chain thereby making sustainable contributions to the South African economy,” said Andrew Kirby, President and CEO, Toyota South Africa Motors.