Transport for London has bought one of the first Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell cars to be sold in Britain, Mayor of London Boris Johnson has confirmed.
The zero-emissions car will be tested in the British capital to “see everything Mirai can do and… take another great step towards improving air quality in our city and protecting the health of Londoners,” said Johnson.
During a three-day trade mission to Japan, Boris Johnson drove the Mirai at a Toyota test facility; he also spoke with senior Toyota execs about how London could become a key market for alternative fuel cars.
Johnson also hopes the arrival of the Mirai will help kick-start development of a hydrogen refuelling infrastructure in London – something he considers ‘important first steps towards the wider adoption of the technology’.
“We applaud the mayor’s commitment to embracing new technology in his mission to make London a leading global city for low-emission, low-carbon transport,” said Toyota GB president and MD Paul Van der Burgh.
“The success of hydrogen will require constructive dialogue and action, bringing together industry, national governments and city authorities like London to share and develop skills and experience and to communicate the benefits that can be delivered to business and to individuals.
“Our Mirai fuel cell vehicle is a milestone in the history of the motor car and opens up unprecedented opportunities for cleaner, sustainable transport.”
Earlier in the year, Toyota took an unprecedented step towards accelerating the development of the hydrogen fuel cell car – by giving away all the patents it developed while creating it.
