Toyota Sora – fuel cell bus concept with 200 km range

Toyota Sora – fuel cell bus concept with 200 km range

Toyota has finally given a name – Sora – to its fuel cell bus concept, along with a sleeker new design. The Japanese company plans to introduce over 100 fully functioning units to operate within the Tokyo metropolitan area before the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

It’s a zero-emissions fuel cell bus that embodies Toyota’s commitment to build environmentally-friendly vehicles for the world. As implied, it’s powered by the same propulsion technology found in the Mirai and Fine-Comfort Ride concept. Under the skin are 10 tanks (with a nominal working pressure of 70 MPa) carrying 600 litres of hydrogen, enough for a fuel cell range of 200 km.

Refuelling all tanks takes about 10 minutes, and the system will have an energy capacity of 235 kWh. The hydrogen then gets fed to two on-board fuel cell stacks that power a pair of electric motors. Combined, the system produces 226 kW (308 PS) and 670 Nm. The bus also doubles as a power generator in the event of disasters. Acceleration is deliberately tweaked to be smoother – gone are the days of lurching in a stop/go situation, because there’s no need for gear shifting as well.

Toyota Sora – fuel cell bus concept with 200 km range

What’s new this time around are the horizontal seats, which feature an automatic storage mechanism (pictured above), providing passengers more space for large items like strollers or wheelchairs. This is the first in Japan, according to Toyota. There are also eight HD cameras fitted inside and outside of the bus for pedestrian and bicycle detection, allowing the driver to safely navigate through busy city streets. The cameras help provide better peripheral monitoring, and visibility is aided by LED headlamps and LED tail lamps as well.

Sora will also get ITS Connect, which utilises vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications to facilitate safe driving. This works together with systems that support bus convoys and provide priority at traffic signals (PTPS5).

For dimensions, the bus is 10,525 mm long, 2,490 mm wide and 3,340 mm tall; large enough to ferry 79 individuals (22 seated, 56 standing) including the driver. The Sora FC bus concept will make its debut at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show, alongside the Fine-Comfort Ride concept.

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Matthew H Tong

An ardent believer that fun cars need not be fast and fast cars may not always be fun. Matt advocates the purity and simplicity of manually swapping cogs while coping in silence of its impending doom. Matt's not hot. Never hot.

 

Comments

  • Why Sora? Sora Aoi?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 4
  • FrankC on Oct 20, 2017 at 11:25 am

    Fuel cell technology finally comes out of lab into consumer world. Way back in 80s this kind of technology is a dream for environmental lovers. True zero co2 emission vehicle. However where is the hydrogen supply network will be? Source of hydrogen gas?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • 200km? But a EV bus can go 1700km per charge.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 6
    • EV bus that can go beyond 600KM in reality is a non-sense by now, and misleading to others. I think you’re referring to new statup bus manufacturer, Proterra
      “It should be added that the bus was in excellent conditions, without passengers, on the test route without stops.”

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
      • Dude. All these concepts is all based on most ideal conditions, even this toyota concept bus. Likely this bus wun even make 180km in real world.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 5
    • WorkHardPlayHard on Oct 20, 2017 at 3:55 pm

      pffft! toyota will still remain on top even u try hard to bash, so pls focus back to ur work — BN macai

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 8
 

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