Toyota has lent Derby’s Mayor and Deputy Mayor a cutting-edge Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle as their official car.
Toyota has been developing and trialling hydrogen fuel cell technology in a range of vehicles, including the prototype Hilux fuel cell pick-up truck designed and built at Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK in Burnaston.
Darius Mikolajczak, MD of Toyota Motor Manufacturing in the UK, said: “It is an honour for Toyota to support Derby City Council’s civic activities with the provision of a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle.
“We believe hydrogen plays a crucial role in decarbonising transport and is a key part of Toyota’s multipath approach to mobility. The Toyota Mirai, with its zero-carbon dioxide and no harmful tailpipe emissions, represents our commitment to sustainable technology and innovation. We are excited to see the positive impact this vehicle may have on inspiring the city’s journey towards a more sustainable future.”
Fuelled by hydrogen – extracted from water using zero carbon renewable energy produced at TMUK – the Mirai emits no carbon dioxide or harmful tailpipe emissions when in use. It is estimated that it will save a tonne of CO2 emissions over the trial, and with zero nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide it will be supporting the city’s shift to zero and low emissions vehicles in their fleet.
Cllr Carmel Swan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability, praised the move. She said: “Our Climate Change Action Plan is all about how we can make changes to build a greener city and encourage partners and residents to do so as well. It’s only right that we lead by example, and I’m delighted that we’ve been able to work with Toyota to provide this brand new, zero emissions civic car at no cost to the Council.
“Our links with hydrogen go back centuries, with Henry Cavendish, who discovered the element, being buried in Derby Cathedral. Now, more than two and half centuries since that discovery, the use of this hydrogen powered car is another reminder of our place as a leader for sustainable fuel technologies.”
