Would You Consider a Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Taxi?
The unveiling of the Toyota Corolla Concept has given a tantalising glimpse of what’s in store for the next generation of what is perennially one of the most popular taxi options in the UK.
The concept revealed at the Japan Mobility Show was in a saloon body style, but it will be adapted into a conventional hatchback and estate version in due course.
While it remains to be seen how many of the concept car’s more unusual features – such as the vast windscreen and sharply raked profile – will make it to production, Toyota insists it is a clear hint of what to expect.
However, the innovative break from tradition is more than just skin deep for the new Corolla with the model set to gain a big overhaul under the skin too.
Toyota Corolla Hybrid, PHEV, EV and FCEV
Toyota has already confirmed the 13th generation Corolla will be offered with electric power for the first time.
The current model has proven immensely popular with taxi drivers on the strength of its convenient self-charging hybrid powertrain, which allows for electric power in low-speed environments to vastly improve fuel economy while reducing emissions output.
Importantly, Toyota won’t abandon this hybrid format for its new model, but there will now also be the choice of a pure electric version, plus a plug-in hybrid.
Not only that, according to Autocar, Toyota bosses say they are keen to utilise the Corolla to popularise the FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle) technology it has been steadily refining over the years.
Fuel cell vehicles eliminate the heavy, cumbersome battery in favour of a hydrogen fuel cell that generates electricity to power the vehicle via a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen in the fuel cell stack.
It’s a solution that matches EVs by being zero emissions because the process emits only water into the atmosphere. Better still, filling a fuel cell with hydrogen from a pump takes only a couple of minutes.
With this in mind, hydrogen fuel presents significant appeal compared with electric for the taxi industry as it limits time spent off the road replenishing a car’s fuel source.
Sounds Great... What’s the Catch?
While FCEV is seen as having huge potential, there are also some key drawbacks, namely the lack of infrastructure to complement the precious few vehicles that take hydrogen fuel.
Only a tiny fraction of fuel forecourts have the facility for hydrogen refuelling – in fact, there are only 16 in the UK at the time of writing and instead of growing, many have in fact been shut off.
Toyota has been lobbying to get more hydrogen refuelling infrastructure points to support its commitment to the technology it wants to roll out.
However, as has been seen with the stuttered shift to electric power, there is a ‘chicken and egg’ issue in that new facilities won’t be built until there are new cars, but there will be no new cars without the facilities to support them.
To date, Toyota does already sell an FCEV model in the UK, named the Mirai. However, the model is sold in very low numbers and is instead seen as more of a litmus test for how the technology could be applied.
It has also created a few prototypes using FCEV technology, including a Hilux pick-up truck (above) and Corolla Cross (US market).
However, the development of a fuel cell version of a mass-market model like the Toyota Corolla could provide the impetus for change, with its appeal to taxi drivers – provided they have the infrastructure – potentially key to any long-lasting success.
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