Picture this: an off-road electric vehicle, say, a Rivian R1S or R1T, a Hummer EV, or maybe the upcoming Jeep Recon EV, finds itself out of juice on the trails. Who’re they gonna call? Well, Toyota’s latest SEMA 2025 build may be the answer.
Combining its hydrogen fuel cell innovations with proven EV tech, Toyota presents a unique and eco-friendly take on adventure with the Tacoma H2-Overland Concept, built on the latest Toyota Tacoma. This concept will be on display at the 2025 SEMA Show and features specs that will undoubtedly make for a fun time beyond the pavement, while also serving as a sort of rescue/recovery vehicle, thanks to some nifty features. Let’s take a look!
The Tacoma H2-Overland Is A 540+ Horsepower, Clean-Driving Off-Road Pickup
The Tacoma H2-Overland Concept showcases Toyota’s multi-path approach to a cleaner future, showing that hydrogen fuel cell tech can be as capable as it is clean. Built by the Toyota Racing Development (TRD) engineering teams in California and North Carolina, as well as Toyota Motor North America R&D, the Tacoma H2-Overland Concept features a 547-horsepower dual-motor setup that consists of a 225-kW front motor and a 188-kW rear eAxle powered by a 24.9-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, offering genuine 4WD ability.
The system utilizes a fuel cell stack taken from the second-gen Toyota Mirai with three H2 tanks providing a 6-kg capacity that pairs with the battery pack to deliver the very respectable 547 horsepower mentioned. The system relies on a TRD custom cooling system that was adapted from Tacoma TRD and Lexus RZ parts to ensure thermal stability when pushing the H2-Overland Concept.
The concept features a 15-kW power takeoff that’s capable of powering a home off-grid or even charging two EVs simultaneously, thanks to dual NEMA 14–50 outlets. Its charging capability, as well as its powerful off-road ability, make it a noteworthy recovery vehicle. From simply charging your battery to pulling you out of a mud bog and powering your campsite, this build is essentially a St. Bernard with a barrel of whiskey in a blizzard. But wait, there’s more! Taking survivability to new heights is the patent-pending TRD exhaust water recovery system, which captures and filters water from the exhaust for camping and outdoor use. While the captured water may not be recommended for drinking, it’s distilled and is perfect for showering and washing.
A Proper Off-Roader That Takes The ‘Buddy System’ Seriously
The concept was designed and built entirely in-house by TRD-USA and features everything you’d expect from such a model, and more. Features include a front limited-slip diff and rear electronic locking diff, a TRD billet long-travel kit with heavy-duty, high-performance Fox 2.5 Performance Elite Series shocks, a brake upgrade, and a set of custom 17×8.5-inch wheels shod in 35×12.5R17 off-road tires. In other words, it’s a true four-wheel-drive overlander that can handle pretty much any terrain.
The build is also equipped with a camper fitted with recycled carbon-fiber aero panels, heavy-duty off-road bumpers on the front and rear, integrated recovery points, a winch, and dual swingouts, as well as tiedowns and a recovery board storage system in the bed of the pickup. Of course, an adventure vehicle needs ample lighting, which the team supplied in the form of DOT-compliant front lightbars, fog lights, and camp lights for those late nights in the wild. The TRD team has successfully adapted FCEV and BEV technology onto a platform that was never meant to house such applications, creating a concept that can tackle any terrain, help those stranded, power campsites, and provide usable water, all without damaging the very environment it’s built to dominate.
Read the full article here