Toyota, together with Hydrogen Mobility Ireland (HMI) and other partners, has brought a Toyota hydrogen fuel cell powered bus, to Ireland for the first time.

The CaetanoBus will start a six week trial which will be carried out by Bus Eireann, Dublin Bus, DCU and Dublin Airport. The aim is to test the revolutionary, sustainable technology in a working environment with a view to wide scale introduction in 2023.

The arrival of the CaetanoBus trial highlights Toyota’s commitment to its brand promise, ‘Built for a Better World’ which aims to make life better for Irish families. A core part of that promise is looking to reduce emissions in motoring, and going beyond zero emissions, how it can have a positive impact. Toyota pioneered the Toyota Fuel Cell System (which features both fuel cell technology and hybrid technology), that is present in the CaetanoBus, and which is more energy-efficient and emits no CO2 or pollutants when driven. The fuel cell consumes hydrogen fuel and air to produce electrical power for the vehicle, with water as the only by product.

In line with its vision of a decarbonised society, Toyota is promoting the application of its hydrogen fuel cell technology beyond passenger cars, including heavy-duty trucks, small delivery trucks, forklifts and buses. Toyota led the world with the introduction of the hydrogen powered Mirai saloon in 2014. The current Mirai has been a catalyst for increasing global awareness of how a future clean and sustainable hydrogen society might be achieved. A new version of the Mirai will be launched next year.

Steve Tormey, Chief Executive of Toyota Ireland commented, “Toyota’s Hydrogen Fuel Cell technology is seen as a powerful tool in the battle against climate change, and allows us to move toward a carbon-free environment. Toyota has been at the forefront of innovation in alternative fuel technologies with our extensive hybrid range, and now the ultimate goal is to create a better world for future generations. Fuel Cell technology, along with self-charging hybrids and battery electric vehicles sets us on the path to do so. We at Toyota Ireland believe that the arrival of the CaetanoBus trial is a pivotal step on this journey.”