Toyota brings us closer to the future with the first production fuel cell bus

Innovations in the automotive world recognise neither limits nor segments, since the latest technology is meant to be applied to all vehicles alike. Toyota is one of those brands that keep bringing us closer to a future we once considered out of reach but which, little by little, is becoming reality. The Japanese manufacturer proved this again and again with its hybrid and electric vehicles, but now it has wanted to surprise us with the Sora, the first production bus to run on a fuel cell.

Buses are a type of vehicle with a high level of pollution and, to reduce it, it is necessary to intervene in the type of fuel they use. Thanks to the hydrogen cells of Toyota, the new Sora can enjoy the performance of a traditional combustion engine and, at the same time, a greater commitment to the environment, a combination that is remarkably successful, something that is also due to the Japanese brand’s experience with this type of powertrain.

Toyota intends to introduce the new Sora on a steady basis, since its goal is to have at least 100 of the brand’s buses on the streets of Tokyo by 2020. At the same time, the Japanese manufacturer aims to considerably improve the comfort of public transport, thanks to the reduction of noise and vibration on board the Toyota bus.

However, the warm reception of the Sora is largely due to the presence of its powertrain. The Toyota bus directly inherits the mechanics used in other models from the brand, such as the Mirai, a saloon that also uses a fuel cell as its power source. This new creation features a nickel-metal hydride battery combined with an electric motor capable of generating 154 CV and 335 Nm of torque, figures more than enough to handle urban journeys successfully.

But the Sora does not only have advanced mechanics inside, it also comes with a wide arsenal of technology. The philosophy behind this latest Toyota model is that of a traditional bus, but loaded with certain elements typical of the era in which it was developed. On the one hand, the Sora focuses on offering comfort to its occupants and that is why all the horizontal seats have an automatic seat-base folding mechanism.

Another notable aspect of the Toyota Sora is its camera system. Thanks to this innovation, the driver can have complete control over what happens around the bus and avoid blind spots. To overcome this obstacle, Japanese engineers have fitted 8 high-definition cameras both outside and inside, and when the Sora stops, all of them issue a type of notification to warn the driver about possible pedestrians or cyclists in the vicinity of the vehicle.

Last but not least, the Sora has acceleration control, a system that minimises any sudden starts, with the aim of ensuring the comfort and safety of its occupants. At the same time, as it has no conventional combustion engine, the Toyota bus has no gear changes, so jolts are minimal.

Toyota aims to lend a hand and bring us closer to the latest technologies that some viewed with a certain scepticism and, thanks to the creation of vehicles like the Sora, the brand has once again shown us that the future has already become the present. At the same time, Toyota continues to work hard in the field of research, and that is why innovations and new developments will not cease whether in the form of production vehicles or concept cars.