A Toyota hydrogen fuel cell powered bus has arrived in Ireland for the first time and is being trialled in Dublin over the next six weeks.
The hydrogen-powered bus can now be seen on the roads of Dublin and the surrounding area thanks to the Hydrogen Mobility Ireland group, Toyota, DCU, CIE, Bus Eireann, Dublin Bus, BOC and ESB. They have come together with Caetano Bus and the Department of Transport to introduce this trial of a Caetano fuel cell bus to Ireland.
The first Irish trial of the zero-emission fuel cell bus will look to demonstrate the many practical uses and environmental benefits of hydrogen towards a carbon-free society.
Toyota says the arrival of the Caetano bus trial highlights the company's commitment to its brand promise, ‘Built for a Better World’ - a core part of which is reducing emissions in motoring, and going beyond zero emissions.
Toyota pioneered the Toyota Fuel Cell System (which features both fuel cell technology and hybrid technology ), that is present in the CaetanoBus, and which is more energy-efficient and emits no CO2 or pollutants when driven.
HMI will look to identify and collate real-world data and assess the performance of fuel cell vehicles with a view to a permanent introduction from 2023.
Steve Tormey, chief executive of Toyota Ireland, says working with the team in Hydrogen Mobility Ireland, Toyota’s Hydrogen Fuel Cell technology is seen as a powerful tool in the battle against climate change.
"It allows us to move toward a carbon-free environment. As we strive to decarbonise transport in Ireland, we need to continue to increase our efforts in order to achieve this.
"Toyota has been at the forefront of innovation in alternative fuel technologies with our extensive hybrid range, and now the ultimate goal is to create a better world for future generations. Fuel Cell technology, along with self-charging hybrids and battery electric vehicles sets us on the path to do so. We at Toyota Ireland believe that the arrival of the CaetanoBus trial is a pivotal step on this journey.”
The fuel cell consumes hydrogen fuel and air to produce electrical power for the vehicle, with water as the only by product. In line with its vision of a de-carbonised society, Toyota is promoting the application of its hydrogen fuel cell technology beyond passenger cars, including heavy-duty trucks, small delivery trucks, forklifts and buses.
The new generation Mirai Toyota led the world with the introduction of the hydrogen powered Mirai saloon in 2014, and the current Mirai has been a catalyst for increasing global awareness of how a future clean and sustainable hydrogen society might be achieved.
Now it is getting ready to launch of the second generation Mirai, due next year, which Toyota says will have a significantly increased volume of 30,000 units produced next year, and will have a driving range increase by 30 per cent compared to Gen 1 and is expected to refuel in under five minutes.
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology
Other global fuel-cell projects include the Energy Observer boat, which is the first boat powered by Toyota hydrogen technology. It has zero emissions and zero noise and has already completed two trans-Atlantic crossings.
Toyota also has multiple projects with partners to develop fuel cell railway vehicles and trucks. Even more ambitiously, and to explore how hydrogen can be integrated into all areas of society, the Woven City in Japan will be a fully connected living eco-system powered by hydrogen fuel cell, and will be a ‘living laboratory’ with full time residents and researchers who will test and develop this technology.
Looking further again, Toyota and the Japanese space agency JAXA, are working on a hydrogen powered rover to help explore the surface of the moon.
