In an Australian-first, Toyota has partnered with Hobsons Bay council to trial zero-emission hydrogen-electric cars that produce only water, supposedly clean enough to drink.
Toyota has loaned the council three Mirai hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles for 12 weeks – the first time they have been driven by members of the public in Australia.
The Mirai – which is Japanese for ‘future’ – works by combining hydrogen and air to create electricity.
Toyota Australia’s Matt MacLeod said the zero CO
2-emission vehicles made no sound and emitted only water vapour.
“Like most hydrogen powered vehicles, the Mirai isn’t currently available for sale in Australia, mainly because there isn’t existing hydrogen refuelling infrastructure to support it,” he said.
The council’s cars will be refilled at a mobile hydrogen refueller at Toyota’s former Altona manufacturing plant.
Councillor Angela Altair said the cars had been added to the council’s operational fleet for routine duties.
“Council is committed to achieving its target of zero net emissions by 2020 in our operations,” she said.
“We are proud to take a leadership role in supporting low emissions vehicles and the development of new and innovative technologies that address climate change.”
As reported by
Star Weekly in July, the council resolved to trial electric cars in its fleet and install charging stations in Hobsons Bay.
Toyota is also trialling two hydrogen fuel cell forklifts at its former Altona plant – the first time they have been used outside Japan.
Toyota Material Handling Australia’s Bob Walmsley said they were being used to move parts around.
“The forklifts have a much quicker refuelling time,” he said.
“They only take around three minutes to fill the hydrogen tank, compared to eight hours to recharge a conventional battery.”
