Many people around the world use public transportation, such as trains or buses, to commute to school or work on a daily basis. While public transport undoubtedly has considerable environmental benefits, most public transport networks run off public power grids or consist of gasoline or diesel burning vehicles. Shifting only a fraction of these networks over to zero-emission fuel cells could significantly reduce overall vehicle emissions.
With this future in mind, Toyota and Hino expect zero-emission fuel cell buses to become a means of transport that will contribute to the realization of a future hydrogen-based society.
In the next stage of development for their jointly-developed fuel cell bus, Toyota Motor Corporation and Hino Motors are to conduct field tests in Tokyo from July 24-30, hoping to accelerate technological development of the bus with the aim of bringing it to market.
These field tests will help determine the practicality of the fuel cell bus for use in public transport networks, as well as evaluating the efficacy of its external power supply system during widespread power outages caused by natural disasters. The tests will be carried out with the cooperation of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
The fuel cell bus, developed jointly by Toyota and Hino, is based on a Hino hybrid non-step bus and is equipped with the Toyota Fuel Cell System developed for the Mirai sedan. The system generates electricity from the chemical reaction between hydrogen stored in the onboard fuel cell system and airborne oxygen.
The design of the bus has been optimized for increased power output, and features two fuel cell stacks and motors alongside eight high-pressure hydrogen tanks. Toyota was responsible for development of the Toyota Fuel Cell System, while Hino handled development of the bus body, including the chassis.