Estimated to cost $962,000, about five times the cost of an ordinary diesel bus, car giant Toyota Motor Corporation’s fuel cell (FC) bus is manufactured by its subsidiary, Hino Motors Ltd., using the same parts used to develop its Mirai fuel cell car, which went on sale two years ago.
The FC bus has 10 hydrogen tanks, allowing the vehicle to travel more than 200 kilometers. The tanks were designed to store up to 600 liters of highly pressurized H2, producing 235 kWh of power.
“The Toyota FC Bus was developed by Toyota, based on the company’s experience in developing FC buses together with Hino Motors, Ltd. (Hino). The Toyota Fuel Cell System (TFCS), which was developed for the Mirai fuel cell vehicle (FCV), has been adopted to provide better energy efficiency in comparison with internal combustion engines, as well as to deliver superior environmental performance with no CO2 emissions or substances of concern (SOCs) when driving,” Toyota said in a statement.
Bus passes please!
Toyota plan to sell fuel cell buses… H5apwAg6S1— Salford Quays Toyota (@ToyotaSQ) October 24, 2016
By 2020, Toyota expects that more than 100 FC buses will be running in the Tokyo metropolitan area in time for the country’s hosting of the Summer Olympics and the Paralympics. The metropolitan government will begin installing large hydrogen fueling stations in the capital in March as it plans to initially run at least two FC buses.
Toyota sees hydrogen as an important source of energy in the future. Aside from the FC buses, the company is also developing FC forklifts and stationary fuel cells for use in homes as part of its contribution to the effort creating a hydrogen-based society.
fuelcell electricity on demand system for bus & home M0dZvYP7pD
— Solar Life (@SOLARLIFE) June 5, 2013
In March, the Mirai was adjudged the 2016 World Green Car by a jury of 73 automotive journalists from 23 countries at the New York International Auto Show.
“Just as Prius changed the world nearly 20 years ago, the hydrogen-powered Mirai is ready to make history,” said Bill Fay, Toyota division president and general manager.
“With a range of over 300 miles per tank, a refueling time of under five minutes, and emissions that consist only of water vapor, Mirai is leading the world forward toward a more sustainable future.”
