Toyota Australia has unveiled a mobile hydrogen refueller that will enable its three trial Mirai fuel-cell cars to go anywhere in Australia that a conventional car can be driven.
The refueller was by the company's local engineers and suppliers and, the automaker said, "represents a clever temporary solution to counter the current lack of a refuelling infrastructure in Australia for fuel-cell cars".
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Toyota Australia fuel-cell project sponsor and senior executive adviser to the board, Bernie O'Connor, said the mobile refueller "will be instrumental in demonstrating the significant benefits of" the Mirai.
"The decision to invest in a mobile refueller demonstrates Toyota's commitment to maintaining its leading role in developing flexible and personal mobility solutions for the next 100 years," O'Connor said.
"It is the first high-pressure hydrogen refueller in Australia that can completely fill a fuel cell vehicle. This is a practical and necessary measure to enable people around Australia to learn about and experience first-hand, the game-changing Mirai and its ground-breaking technology."
O'Connor said Toyota would continue to work with governments, industry and other key stakeholders in Australia to fast-track the development of the refuelling infrastructure required to support the widespread sale of fuel-cell vehicles.
"Our local vision is that, as a first step, government departments and businesses running back-to-base fleets will be able to arrange appropriate refuelling. In parallel, we see great merit in the introduction of strategically placed refuellers in our larger cities," he said.
As an interim measure, Toyota's mobile refueller incorporates a generator and a compressor mounted in a purpose-built trailer attached to a Hino 700 series prime mover.
Hydrogen, delivered to the refueller in bottles, is cooled and pressurised to the required 70MPa (700bar) before being pumped into the FCVs. The refueller can also be used to deliver hydrogen to other FCVs such as buses and forklifts, as well as being capable of transporting a car.
Australian testing shows the Mirai offers a driving range of about 550km when its two tanks are filled with about 5kg of compressed hydrogen. Refuelling from a commercial site takes three to five minutes. The only tailpipe emission is water vapour.
The Mirai, which Toyota claims is the world's first mass-produced fuel-cell sedan, is on sale in Japan, the United States and Europe in areas with refuelling infrastructure.
