Toyota begins production of Sora fuel cell bus

Toyota Motor Corporation has started sales of its Sora fuel cell bus with production underway.

It’s the first of its kind to receive vehicle type certification in Japan.

Over 100 units are expected to be introduced within the Tokyo metropolitan area ahead of the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Toyota launched the “Start Your Impossible” global corporate initiative in 2017 to transform the company from an automobile company to a mobility service company.

The Sora is part of this vision using the Toyota Fuel Cell System (TFCS).

It is equipped with a high-capacity external power output device which can provide 9 kW maximum output, and electricity supply of 235 kWh.

It has the potential to be use as an emergency power source following disasters.

The Sora’s seats are automatically stored when not in use, improving comfort and convenience for passengers with strollers and wheelchairs as well as other passengers.

Eight high-definition cameras fitted inside and outside the vehicle detect pedestrians and bicyclists around the bus providing a field of vision support camera system.

When at bus stops, the system warns the driver of surrounding pedestrians and bicyclists through sound notifications and images.