Toyota Tacoma H2-Overlander is a Pickup That Drinks Hydrogen and Exhales Water

The Las Vegas lights flash over the convention center floor as throngs gather around a mid-size vehicle that appears to be built to conquer the desert yet runs on a gas so light it’s virtually air. Toyota’s latest innovation, the Tacoma H2-Overlander Concept, is ready for the 2025 SEMA Show, with silent power and almost nothing but water to exhale. No loud V8, no plugs to mess with, just a big 547 horsepower ready to carry you miles from where the power goes out.

Toyota Racing Development (TRD) engineers began with a clean slate, namely a TNGA-F platform Tacoma chassis. They remove the petrol engine and install the Mirai sedan’s second-generation fuel-cell stack, then tuck three carbon-fiber wrapped hydrogen tanks (weighing a total of 6kg) into the frame rails for improved safety. Hydrogen in, oxygen on board, an electrical charge is generated, and only water vapor is produced. A 24.9 KWh lithium-ion battery rests underneath, scooping up every watt the stack generates and sending it to two electric motors: 225 kilowatts up front, 188 kilowatts from the rear e-axle. Turn the key, and instant torque strikes all four wheels via a limited slip front differential and an electronic rear locker – zero to dirt in complete silence.

You can recharge in 5 minutes at a hydrogen station and then continue driving until the tanks run dry, which is longer than many electric 4x4s with no charger in sight. Toyota incorporated cooling components from the TRD Pro Tacoma and the electrified Lexus RZ to keep temperatures stable. Then they fitted Fox 2.5 Performance Elite shocks (helpfully borrowed from Tundra development) to absorb up those enormous boulders, while 35-inch General Grabber all-terrain tires on 17-inch Method wheels Race wheels simply grip the road.



Step up to the tailgate, and the real party begins: a system that collects all of the exhaust water, filters it so it is safe to drink, and then stores it in a tank. So you can fill up your shower bag, rinse off your muddy boots, or even wash your dinner plates – that’s about the same amount that 14 gallons of water you can get out of every full hydrogen fill-up. Toyota claims that some states say you don’t even need to drink it because it has no minerals, but honestly, the utility of having it on tap when you’re stuck in the desert is priceless.

Need some juice while camping? Flip open the two NEMA 14-50 outlets on the bedside. Fifteen kilowatts are produced, which is enough to power a tiny house or two other inoperable electric rigs. There are also cabinets with a Dometic fridge and a propane-free grille that burns a little amount of tank hydrogen. Carbon fibre panels flap open like wings, revealing recovery boards and tie down points. On top, there’s a pop-up roof tent, all made from the same lightweight material.




Heavy-duty bumpers are designed to carry a winch up front and dual swing-out carriers out back. Seven circular lights perch atop the roof, and a 40-inch light bar cuts through the darkness. The good news is that every single one of those lamps is street legal, allowing you to drive home without incident.



Range estimates place it at roughly 300 miles on a single fill, which is close to the Mirai’s daily driving needs, plus you can still bring all of your belongings along for the adventure. Then there’s the added benefit of regenerative brakes, which return some of that energy to the battery every time you ride downhill, allowing you to extend your trip a little longer. Guys who used to rely on diesel generators to carry them through the desert are now employing this same technology to power up their LED tower lights, and they get zero fumes and zero noise, too.



Take a tour around the SEMA aisles between November 4th and 7th, and you’ll find the H2-Overlander in Central Hall, booth 22200. Come check it out, run your hand over the sleek carbon panels, look at the bright exhaust, and grab a drink from the built-in water tank. One taste of this filtered, free-flowing water, which comes directly from the exhaust, no less.
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