Toyota Germany, Anglo American, and the SafeDriver Group with ENNOO are collaborating on a pilot project in Berlin to showcase the everyday suitability of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).
The project, called “H2 Moves Berlin,” aims to create broad acceptance of alternative drive technology and offer sustainable and emission-free mobility options to the public. Currently, the project has 50 Toyota Mirai FCEVs on the streets of Berlin, with plans to expand the fleet to 200 vehicles in the coming months. This will make it Germany’s largest hydrogen fleet in commercial passenger transport.
The Toyota Mirai is a fuel cell vehicle that can travel up to 650 kilometers per tank of fuel, suitable for long distances and continuous use. According to Toyota, hydrogen vehicles offer special advantages in passenger transport, with short refueling times, long range, and emission-free driving. The hydrogen filling stations of the Berlin-based company H2 MOBILITY Deutschland provide quick, safe, and easy refueling for the vehicles.
Passengers can book the Toyota Mirai via the Uber app, and the car can be specially ordered with the “Comfort Electric – high-quality hydrogen / electric vehicles” option. “Our passengers are already enthusiastic about the sustainable and comfortable mobility experience with hydrogen,” says Thomas Mohnke, Managing Director of the SafeDriver Group. “The drivers appreciate the combination of the driving performance of an electric car with the range and refueling speed of a combustion engine.”
Anglo American, a leading producer of platinum, an essential component of fuel cells, is committed to the adoption of hydrogen-powered solutions across the industry. “Fuel cells are a key technology for zero-emission electric vehicles, which we need to drive decarbonization in transport,” said Benny Oeyen, Executive Head of Market Development, Platinum Group Metals, at Anglo American. “In doing so, we are making a concrete contribution to the emerging ecosystem of hydrogen transport.”
The “H2 Moves Berlin” project will run for two years, with the aim of demonstrating the enormous potential of hydrogen-powered FCEVs and their suitability for everyday use. “H2 Moves Berlin opens a new chapter for zero-emission mobility with hydrogen,” says André Schmidt, President of Toyota Germany. “With the pilot project, we are not only expanding the range of hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles in Berlin but also showing how suitable and efficient models such as the Toyota Mirai are for everyday use, especially in commercial passenger transport.”
The success of the pilot project could pave the way for more hydrogen-powered FCEVs on the streets of Berlin and other cities worldwide. The initiative aims to help sustainable hydrogen mobility achieve a breakthrough in Germany and beyond.
