Some of the world’s most advanced hydrogen cars are coming to London as part of Boris Johnson’s ambition to use clean energy transport.
The office of the Mayor of London said the UK capital will take delivery of a fleet of Toyota Mirai fuel cell electric vehicles.
Initially, four cars from the fleet will be used by Transport for London to help with essential engineering on bus stops and tube stations.
The 12 cars will eventually all be used as taxis, or mini cabs and by green businesses including energy storage specialist ITM Power (LON:ITM).
Paul Van der Burgh, President & Managing Director for Toyota (GB), said: “Transport for London and the city it serves will provide the ideal environment for Mirai to demonstrate the significant potential of hydrogen as a practical alternative fuel.”
Toyota has named London a ‘key city’ for the early adoption of hydrogen vehicles, due to the infrastructure, including new refuelling stations, being built across the city.
There are currently seven zero-emission hydrogen passenger cars in London, but with the arrival of the Mirai and more cars expected from Hyundai, this number is set to more than triple this year.
The number of hydrogen refuelling stations in London is also set grow by more than double by the end of 2016, with ITM Power commissioned to site three hydrogen refuelling stations on the forecourts of Shell outlets in London.
London's next wave of hydrogen refuelling stations is being delivered through the HyFIVE project, a European-wide initiative.
Hydrogen powered vehicles emit no emissions from the tailpipe, just water vapour, and are on a par with conventional vehicles in terms of size, driving range, speed and refuelling time.