Hydrogen Central

Toyota could pilot hydrogen-powered taxis in Bradford

hydrogen-powered taxis toyota

Toyota could pilot hydrogen-powered taxis in Bradford

Bradford Council has revealed it is in discussions with Toyota, and the partnership could lead to hydrogen cell Mirai cars used in the district.

A state-of-the-art hydrogen fuel site is due to be built on a former gas holder site on Bowling Back Lane, and late last year Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed Government funding for the development.

At a recent meeting of Bradford Council it was revealed that the development could lead to a partnership with Toyota that would see taxis powered by Hydrogen cells trialled in Bradford, using the site to refuel.

Councillor Mohsin Hussain (Lab, Keighley Central) had asked for an update on the roll-out of electric taxis in Bradford, funded through the district’s Clean Air Zone.

The response from Council bosses said the Clean Air EV Taxi Fund has resulted in 520 taxis being upgraded to zero emissions.

Further applications for funding were being processed, with the response from Council bosses saying:

This will result in around 800 electric taxis – the highest number of electric taxis in the UK outside London.

The response went on to discuss other plans to decarbonise the district’s taxi and private hire fleet.

It said:

The Council continues to look at potential alternative funding sources and is also in discussions with Toyota regarding a Pilot Hydrogen Taxi Programme, involving fuel cell Mirai cars, to coincide with the roll out of hydrogen infrastructure in the district.

The Telegraph & Argus has contacted Toyota for a comment but has yet to receive a response.

The Mirai is an electric vehicle that uses an electric motor, with electricity being produced on the spot by the Hydrogen fuel cell stack.

The cars are refuelled at hydrogen fuel stations, like the one planned for Bowling Back Lane.

Toyota describes it as

The next step in the age of zero harmful tail pipe emissions, powered by electricity made in its innovative fuel cell stack that fuses oxygen and hydrogen together

The Bowling Back Lane site is expected to generate £120m for the local economy and support the creation of up to 125 new jobs.

It will have the capacity to produce 12.5 tonnes of hydrogen each day, removing around 800 diesel-fuelled buses from West Yorkshire’s roads daily.

The project is being delivered by joint venture partners N-Gen and Hygen, with support from Bradford Council.

READ the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at Hydrogen Central

Toyota could pilot hydrogen-powered taxis in Bradford, source

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