Saudi Arabia is strengthening its efforts to decarbonize the transportation sector through a strategic partnership between King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Abdul Latif Jameel Motors, and Toyota Motor Corp.

The collaboration aims to advance hydrogen fuel cell technology and support the kingdom’s ambitious goals of producing 2.9 million tons of hydrogen by 2030  and achieving net zero emissions by 2060.

KAUST has acquired proton electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell modules from Toyota and established a dedicated laboratory within its Clean Energy Research Platform. This facility is designed to adapt fuel cells to the specific environmental conditions of Saudi Arabia.

Mani Sarathy, professor of chemical engineering at KAUST, highlighted the significance of this partnership in advancing the adoption of hydrogen fuel cell technology in the kingdom.

“Through our Clean Energy Research Platform, we are focused on advancing research that will optimize hydrogen fuel cells for the region’s specific conditions, ensuring their efficiency and reliability,” Sarathy said.

Sarathy and his CERP team are researching the performance and durability of PEM fuel cells, with support from Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) and Abdul Latif Jameel Motors, Toyota’s distributor in Saudi Arabia since 1955.

According to KAUST, their studies focus on optimizing fuel cells for the kingdom’s infrastructure, particularly in terms of temperature, humidity, and efficiency.

Mazin Ghazi Jameel, managing director of Toyota marketing operations at Abdul Latif Jameel Motors, highlighted the company’s commitment to promoting sustainable mobility solutions. “This partnership reaffirms our commitment to enabling a future of cleaner, efficient, and smarter mobility accessible to all,” he said.

Nobuyuki Takemura, chief representative of the Toyota liaison office for mobility and energy in Saudi Arabia, emphasized Toyota’s leadership in environmentally friendly mobility solutions. “We are bringing this technology to Saudi Arabia, supporting its decarbonization goals,” he said.

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