[volkman10]

Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) announces the launch of the "Sora," a Toyota fuel cell bus (FC bus) concept.

Toyota plans to launch sales of a commercial model based on the concept vehicle in 2018 and expects to introduce over 100 Sora, mainly within the Tokyo metropolitan area, ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.



The Sora is the first bus in Japan to feature eight HD cameras installed inside and outside to monitor everything that’s going on around the bus. Whenever something is detected, be it a bicycle or a pedestrian, the driver receives visual and audio warnings.

The bus is equipped with horizontal seats with an automatic storage mechanism to provide space for strollers or wheelchairs. This provides extra seating for regular passengers when the space is not needed for strollers or wheelchairs.

Toyota plans to display the Sora (concept model) at Tokyo Big Sight during the 45th Tokyo Motor Show 2017.

Source:Toyota

[e2p]

Mod Note : Please do NOT post messages that add little or no informational value to the thread. We need your co-operation to maintain the quality of this forum. We advise you to read the Forum Rules before proceeding any further.

Request to post ONLY when you have something substantial to add to a discussion.

[GTO]

Nice . Toyota placed its bets on fuel cells, but in the short term, fell behind the more popular EV revolution.

For those interested in knowing more about this tech, here's bblost's report.

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by volkman10

Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) announces the launch of the "Sora," a Toyota fuel cell bus (FC bus) concept.
Toyota plans to launch sales of a commercial model based on the concept vehicle in 2018 and expects to introduce over 100 Sora, mainly within the Tokyo metropolitan area, ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Thank you volkman10 for always updating us on these innovations and new frontiers. I believe this can be one route of development for non-fossil fuel cars. The proven-ness of this technology is not far to find. The Swedes installed stirling engines in their submarines that burned liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to propel the submarines at low patrol speeds and or to charge the conventional submarine batteries. Both the gases are stored in cyrogenic tanks in liquid form and the combustion takes place at 60 bars to ensure the exhaust gas (water vapour) can be exhaled out under the high water pressures found at submarine depths.Their submarines have sailed, I guess, several million kms underwater using this since c.1989. Interestingly the Jap Navy followed suit and is rapidly going to have the worlds largest fleet of hydrogen powered subs. The aim here is 'air-independent-propulsion' but the tech is the same and its a hybrid. Very interesting times lie ahead.

Originally Posted by GTO

For those interested in knowing more about this tech, here's bblost's report.

The thread by bblost is outstanding in not only how much it describes but also how simply and lucidly he explains. Maybe a little late but rated it 5 stars.