Toyota's Outlook on Energy Storage and Sustainable Logistics in the UK
Key Ideas
- Toyota Material Handling's report highlights the importance of high-capacity batteries in the UK's future energy infrastructure for running industrial sites and powering cities.
- Advancements in battery technology, including solid-state batteries, are seen as positive for long-term energy solutions despite current cost and production challenges.
- The report also notes a growing interest in alternative fuels like hydrotreated vegetable oil and hydrogen technology among operators of larger materials handling fleets.
Toyota Material Handling (UK) has presented the Trends in Logistics 2024 report, emphasizing the increasing significance of energy storage challenges in the supply chain sector as fossil fuels phase out. The report underscores the pivotal role of high-capacity batteries in the UK's future energy landscape, with a focus on their potential to power entire industrial sites or large urban areas. Toyota acknowledges the necessity for batteries capable of storing energy from renewable sources like solar and wind, highlighting the ongoing race among manufacturers and OEMs to develop efficient solutions. Despite the promise of solid-state batteries, their current high cost and production complexities pose hurdles to widespread adoption. Additionally, the report discusses the rising enthusiasm for alternative fuels such as hydrotreated vegetable oil and hydrogen technology in materials handling equipment fleets. Toyota's Product Development Manager, Gary Ison, points out the benefits of hydrogen fuel cells for emission-free operation when on-site hydrogen supply is available. The report raises concerns about grid capacity and the availability of electricity from renewable sources, impacting investment decisions and potentially hindering the UK's net-zero goals.