GAC Toyota likely to start FCV pilot operation using Toyota’s Mirai
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- GAC Toyota plans to kick off the trial operation of Toyota's “most advanced” hydrogen-powered vehicle at the end of 2019 and set up in Nansha, a city of Guangdong Province, China's first hydrogen-refueling station with 70 MPa refueling capability, according to Zeng Qinghong, chairman of GAC Group.
“GAC Group is also going to carry out a comprehensive cooperation with Toyota on hydrogen energy,” Mr. Zeng added.
(Photo source: Toyota)
The aforesaid “most advanced” hydrogen model is in all likelihood the Mirai, a mid-size hydrogen fuel cell car manufactured by Toyota. It means that the sedan-like FCV is expected to be introduced into China via GAC Toyota.
Hitting the market in December, 2014, the Mirai uses a stack of cells that electro-chemically combine hydrogen with oxygen to generate electricity to propel the vehicle, with water being the only byproduct. It carries a powertrain that is able to produce 155hp at full tilt and make the car sprint from standstill to 100km/h within 10 seconds. Besides, the Toyota's FCV requires much less time to refuel—about three to five minutes.
After leading the world with the Mirai's debut in 2014, Toyota showcased the second-generation Mirai Concept at the 2019 Toyota Motor Show, aiming to take its zero-emission FCV technology to new heights.
(Photo source: SinoHytec)
Toyota is clearly speeding up its FCV deployment in China. In April, 2019, the Japan-based auto giant agreed to cooperate with Foton Motor and SinoHytec in the field of hydrogen fuel cell buses. Under the agreement, the products manufactured by Foton would be equipped with some spare parts from Toyota and SinoHytec.
In this year's July, Toyota said it would supply key hydrogen fuel-cell parts to Chinese automakers FAW Group and Higer Bus, with the Shanghai-based Re-Fire acting as a local supplier.
Moreover, Toyota cemented in late September the collaboration with two major partners in China—FAW Group and GAC Group—to jointly research and develop electrified vehicles. All parties would be dedicated to rolling out affordable high-quality all-electric and hydrogen fuel cell models to satisfy Chinese consumers' demands for power diversity.
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