- A first: the first Dutch taxi fleet on hydrogen
- The municipality of The Hague opts for emission-free transport with Toyota Mirai
Toyota dealer Louwman in The Hague has delivered 35 Toyota’s Mirai cars to Noot Personenvervoer. This means that the municipality of The Hague has the first hydrogen-powered taxi fleet in the Netherlands. Toyota carries out its long-term vision towards zero vehicle emissions and focuses on various efficient powertrains. With the commissioning of the taxi fleet, the number of hydrogen cars sold in 2019 will increase by 152 percent.
First electric sedan with fuel cell
The municipality of The Hague issued a tender for CO2-neutral transport, which was won by Noot Personenvervoer. The 35 Toyota’s Mirai – the first electric fuel cell sedan in the world – are used as WMO transport (Social Support Act). Anyone who cannot use public transport can use WMO transport. Around 15,000 people use this every year.
Completely emission-free
The Toyota Mirai is perfectly suited for use as a taxi thanks to its action radius and the absence of emissions. Toyota itself developed a Fuel Cell Stack that generates electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. This produces the electricity with which the electric motor is driven. This electric motor produces 113 kW / 155 hp and is standard linked to an automatic transmission. Only water comes out of the outlet; the Mirai is completely emission-free. Is the fuel cell empty? Then you can easily add kilos of hydrogen within a few minutes. The Toyota Mirai is just as easy to use as a gasoline or diesel car.
Proud of the taxi fleet
Jan-Christiaan Koenders, Managing Director of Toyota importer Louwman & Parqui is proud of the taxi fleet: “Toyota is implementing its powerful long-term vision for zero emissions. The brand was the first to introduce the self-charging hybrid car and the first electric fuel cell sedan in the world. We are proud that with the deployment of 35 Toyota’s Mirai, The Hague is the first Dutch municipality with a hydrogen- powered taxi fleet . We praise Noot Personenvervoer for their drive to realize WMO transport with our hydrogen technology. This is an important milestone in the energy transition. ”
Available 24/7
Martijn Kersing, Director of Noot Personenvervoer: “With this project we are deploying the first hydrogen taxi fleet in the Netherlands. Elsewhere in Europe there are also such initiatives, such as in Paris where at the moment 100 Toyota’s Mirai are already running. That we have used hydrogen is a logical choice because our client demands that we are available 24/7 with our fleet. Due to the large radius of action of the hydrogen car and the fast refueling, we can now offer this. ”
Hydrogen can decarbonize society
Ad van Wijk, Professor of Future Energy Systems at TU Delft: “I am convinced that we will no longer escape the use of hydrogen in various sectors such as mobility, industry, electricity and heating in our daily lives. By scaling up hydrogen applications, we can decarbonize society faster. The step that the municipality of The Hague is now taking with this taxi fleet is an important signal towards this new era. ”
Only emit water
The Toyota Mirai has a Fuel Cell Stack developed entirely by Toyota itself, which generates electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. The 113 kW / 155 hp electric motor drives the front wheels. An automatic transmission is standard. The hydrogen is stored in two extremely strong, lightweight tanks, which are made of three layers of carbon-reinforced plastic. Because hydrogen is converted into electricity that drives the electric motor and only water is released as a residual product, the Toyota Mirai is 100 percent emission-free. The recommended retail price of the spacious and 4.89 meter long Toyota Mirai is 80,935 euros.
Refuel in a few minutes
The operating range of the Toyota Mirai is comparable to that of a petrol car. Moreover, the Mirai is quick and easy to refuel. The only difference is that you do not fill liters, but kilos. And because refueling takes only a few minutes, the Mirai is very suitable for covering greater distances. Ideal to serve as a taxi.
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