Three decades into the Tacoma’s life as Toyota’s midsize workhorse, the truck has become more than transportation but a lifestyle vehicle. Since replacing Toyota’s “Pickup” nameplate in 1995, the Tacoma has carved out its own identity among overlanders, weekend warriors, and anyone who appreciates that rare combination of reliability and off-road capability.
For its latest SEMA build, Toyota Racing Development decided to build something of a purpose-built overlanding machine while also swapping the entire powertrain for hydrogen fuel-cell tech borrowed from the Mirai sedan.
Hydrogen Goes Off-Road
The H2-Overlander is the result of months of engineering work from TRD’s California and North Carolina teams, who managed to shoehorn the Mirai’s second-generation fuel-cell stack into the Tacoma’s TNGA-F ladder frame. Three hydrogen tanks sit within the frame rails, holding over 13lbs of capacity, while a 24.9-kWh lithium-ion battery pack provides additional juice. Power flows to dual electric motors — 225 kW up front and 188 kW at the rear — delivering a combined 547hp through a front limited-slip differential and rear electronic locking differential. That’s proper four-wheel-drive capability, just with zero tailpipe emissions beyond water vapor.
The chassis received appropriate upgrades to handle the added weight and performance. TRD fitted a billet long-travel suspension kit with Fox 2.5 Performance Elite Series shocks adapted from Tundra development, paired with Tundra front brakes and aggressive 35-inch General Grabber all-terrain tires mounted on custom 17-inch wheels. A custom cooling system pulls components from both the gas-powered Tacoma TRD Pro and all-electric Lexus RZ to keep the hydrogen and electric systems stable under load.
Exhausting Your Possibilities
Where this concept gets interesting is how TRD thought beyond just the drivetrain swap. The patent-pending exhaust water recovery system captures and filters the only byproduct from the fuel cell — water — making it available for washing or showering at camp. Toyota doesn’t recommend drinking it, but having an additional water source in remote locations addresses a real need for overlanders, whether you’re trying to take a quick shower or wash some clothes. There’s also a 15-kW power takeoff capable of running an off-grid home or simultaneously charging two EVs via dual NEMA 14-50 outlets.
On the outside, a customized overlanding camping shell with recycled carbon-fiber aero panels lifts from all three sides, while heavy-duty bumpers front and rear integrate recovery points and a winch. The bed carries recovery boards and tiedowns, with a roboformed tailgate that holds a full-size spare. A pop-up roof tent completes the self-contained setup, alongside DOT-compliant lighting that includes front lightbars, fog lights, and camp lighting.
Spec Sheet
Model: Toyota Tacoma H2-Overlander Concept
Powertrain: Hydrogen fuel-cell electric (FCEV) + Battery electric (BEV)
Fuel Cell: Second-generation Toyota Mirai stack
Hydrogen Capacity: Three tanks
Battery: 24.9 kWh lithium-ion
Power: 547 hp
Drivetrain: 4WD with front limited-slip differential and rear electronic locking differential
Suspension: TRD billet long-travel kit with Fox 2.5 Performance Elite Series shocks
Wheels & Tires: Custom 17×8.5-inch wheels with 35×12.5R17 off-road tires
Other Features: Patent-pending exhaust water recovery system, recycled carbon-fiber aero panels
Debut: SEMA Show 2025 (November 4-7, Las Vegas Convention Center)
Pricing & Availability
The Tacoma H2-Overlander Concept is a one-off show vehicle built for SEMA 2025, where it’ll be on display at Toyota’s booth (Central Hall, Booth 22200) from November 4-7.
Recap
Toyota Tacoma H2-Overlander Concept
Toyota Racing Development stuffed a hydrogen fuel-cell powertrain from the Mirai sedan into a Tacoma, creating a 547-horsepower overlanding concept that runs on nothing but hydrogen and emits only water vapor that you can use for things like showering.
