The Toyota Tacoma H2-Overlander Concept is the most powerful Tacoma ever. Forget that it can make enough electricity on trail to run your campsite and power two EVs. Forget that it can fill up its fuel tank in just a couple of minutes.
This Taco is powerful in those ways, but it is also powerful in the stump-pulling fashion. Its advanced driveline delivers 547 horsepower, and the only thing that comes out of the tailpipe is water — water that you can use, wherever you are.
H2-Offroading
You might have guessed this SEMA concept isn’t using one of Toyota’s many gas engines, and you’d be right. The Tacoma H2-Overlander Concept, like the name suggests, uses hydrogen (H2) gas and a fuel cell.
It’s the same fuel cell stack as the Toyota Mirai, but instead of that production car’s tiny battery, this one holds 24.9 kWh. The fuel cell turns compressed hydrogen from the three onboard tanks into electricity, which is then sent to the twin motors or to the battery for storage.
When you run low, you can fill the truck’s three tanks in just a couple of minutes. If you can find an H2 station, that is.
The front motor in this Tacoma makes 302 horsepower, and the rear 252. No, that doesn’t quite add up, but the motors each make peak power at slightly different rpms.
Long-Travel, Lift, and Rear Locker
Up front, Toyota has fitted a limited-slip differential. At the back is an electronic locker. Because there is no driveshaft or transfer case, the truck can always send power to at least one tire at each corner, making it a lot tougher to get stuck.
Toyota upgraded the suspension with a TRD long-travel kit and Fox 2.5 Performance Elite Series shocks. Its 35-inch tall tires on 17-inch wheels deliver off-road traction, and Tundra front brakes help it stop.
The truck is loaded up with overlanding accessories. It has a Dometic fridge in the back and a gas grille on a slider that burns H2 from the tank. It also gets a pop-top truck camper.
Plenty of cool blue accents adorn this concept. The recovery hooks, front skid plate, and even suspension parts — like the Panhard bar and lower control arms — are all blue.
Toyota Tacoma H2-Overlander Concept: Share Your Power
But the coolest part of it all might be the ability to use the hydrogen-created electricity to power your campsite and even charge another EV. Up to 15 kW of power is available, and that battery should be able to run your site for weeks unless you bring along all the electric toys.
Or maybe the coolest feature is the custom exhaust water recovery system. Toyota doesn’t recommend drinking it, but it says the filtration system makes the water from the exhaust of the fuel cell stack OK for washing and showering. The stack puts out about 14 gallons of water for every full tank of hydrogen consumed. That’s some high-quality H2-overlanding from this Toyota concept pickup.
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