Toyota’s Hydrogen-Powered Bus To Go On Sale By 2017

Used the improved version of Fuel Cell system developed for the Toyota Mirai FCV.

Toyota hydrogen fuel cell bus details

Hydrogen Fuel Cell: Together with fuel cell powertrain and a battery pack, the Toyota bus can deliver up to 235 kWh of power.

Toyota is planning to introduce its latest hydrogen-powered low-floor city bus in its home country Japan by early next year. Developed along with its subsidiary company Hino Motors, the zero-emission bus features a fuel cell powertrain and a battery pack to drive its twin-electric motors. It can also be used as an emergency backup power source to provide electricity to other external application.

Also Read: Toyota Mirai: Exceptional Technology Behind Curvy Design

The Japanese auto giant is itself the new face of developing fuel cell energy industry, with the company moving beyond domestic energy systems and hydrogen-powered passenger cars. Although not clean as pure-electric vehicles, Toyota is very vocal about hydrogen fuel cell as practical alternative to battery-powered vehicles. At its domestic market, the company is aiming to deploy a fleet of 100 hydrogen-powered buses in and round Tokyo city before the 2020 Olympics.

The Toyota-badged bus with a Mirai-inspired boomerang-shaped headlamp design can carry up to 76 passengers. There are 10 high-pressure fuel tanks located on the roof to hold 600 liters of compressed hydrogen. The two-large fuel cell stacks at the rear deck synthesis the fuel to produce electricity, which is then stored at a nickel-metal hydride battery pack placed just above them. The power-control unit manages power supply to the rear axle-mounted twin electric motors 114-kilowatt (152 hp) each.

Also Read: Toyota Claims Impressive Advancement in Li-on Battery Technology

Another interesting feature of this hydrogen bus is its power-discharging ability a rate of 9 kilowatts, for external power applications such as during an disaster, or to light up an stage at an event. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has proposed a vision of “hydrogen society”, where fuel-cell energy is to replace conventional power source for domestic applications (like homes, public buildings) and mobility solutions. Ever since the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear mishap, the country is moving towards safer, practical, and more efficient energy sources.

Next, would you like to read more on Toyota, or Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles?  

Dhiyanesh Ravichandran

Editorial consultant (Automotive and Technology), academic, and blogger based in India. He can be reached at wagenclub@gmail.com

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