Toyota New Zealand says it is focused on supporting New Zealand to establish a hydrogen economy beyond light transport and expand its business operation through bringing in technology innovations.
Its efforts aim at hydrogen opportunities in both mobility solutions and static applications as part of an ambition to diversify and continue to build a carbon-neutral business.
Working with its parent company Toyota Motor Corporation, Toyota NZ says it is introducing new hydrogen technologies in the form of vehicles, fuels cells, and fully renewable hydrogen generators to support New Zealand’s construction and conservation sectors.
“While we continue to reduce emissions within our light vehicle fleet, we are highly motivated to introduce new hydrogen technology to help us decarbonise our overall business and the economy,” says Toyota New Zealand chief executive Neeraj Lala.
“We are expanding our business and entering the exciting new world of renewable energy, powered by green hydrogen, produced here in Aotearoa New Zealand.”
Toyota expects to have a minimum 46% absolute carbon reduction by 2030.
“We are working closely with other highly respected and motivated brands in NZ that share a passion for new technology and exploring new ways to make their business more sustainable,” says Lala.
“Our ambition is to introduce hydrogen technology that Toyota Motor Corporation is already working on and to bring it to New Zealand.
“We believe hydrogen technology can help decarbonise critical commercial sectors more effectively beyond light transport in the short-term,” Lala adds.
Toyota NZ says it has introduced three hydrogen initiatives into New Zealand in the past six months – a hydrogen-powered electricity generator built in Europe, hydrogen-fuel cells sourced from Japan for America’s Cup chase boats, and hydrogen fuel cell Mirai cars in a car sharing scheme with commercial partners in Auckland.
It launched the Toyota Hydrogen Project car share scheme in May 2022, and partnered with eight Kiwi brands to showcase the technology’s capabilities. The car share initiative, operated under its CityHop business, is available for daily use by scheme members.
Lala reckons more than 5.6 tonnes of carbon dioxide have been removed in under a year from the Auckland inner city precinct during more than 28,000km travelled by the eight companies in the zero emission Toyota Mirai.
Toyota has also worked with long-term partner Emirates Team New Zealand to help develop the team’s hydrogen chase boat, Chase Zero, through providing the fuel cell technology.
Chase Zero is now in Europe with the team and orders have been received for more chase boats from other America’s Cup teams, says Toyota NZ, adding these boats will be built in New Zealand in partnership with Toyota Hydrogen and other local technology suppliers.
“Before departing for Europe, Chase Zero has removed more than 19.8 tonnes of CO2 from the marine sector, and over 8585 litres of petrol was replaced with a zero emissions solution,” Lala explains.
“We will see hydrogen powered chase boats in Barcelona with fuel cells supplied by Toyota New Zealand.”
Toyota Motor Corporation has developed a modular fuel cell system that can be used in various commercial applications – designed to address the need for large output in applications such as trucks, buses, ships, and stationary generators.
It plans to expand the fuel cells into more commercial applications.
Toyota NZ has worked with Toyota Europe and its technology partner Energy Observer Developments (EODev) to bring what it says is the first hydrogen-powered electricity generator to New Zealand. T
The GEH2 hydrogen generator has about a three square metre footprint and is rated at 110kVA and 88kW, emitting only hot water and filtered air.
Toyota says the hydrogen generator has many potential uses here.
“It is ideal for off-grid isolated sites (shelters, islands, telecom relays), sensitive or confined environments (tunnels, closed spaces), protected and regulated zero emission zones, construction sites (off-grid or downtown), and emergency use during power outages for data centres, hospitals, airports, ports, or banks,” says Toyota, adding it’s also suited to events such as concerts and temporary sporting events.
Toyota New Zealand and Emirates Team New Zealand used the GEH2 to power the screening of a documentary about its land speed record attempt with land yacht Horonuku, at Te Komititanga (between Britomart Station and Commercial Bay) in downtown Auckland.