Aberdeen hydrogen roll-out continues with two new HyTrEc2 car club vehicles
The Toyota Mirai models will join the Co-wheels Car Club fleet in the city and be hired to members through the online booking system.
The Mirai, winner of the World Car Awards green car of the year award, uses hydrogen fuel cell technology to enable long-distance emission free motoring – with a range in excess of 300 miles.
The cars have received EU Interreg North Sea Region funding through the Hydrogen Transport Economy (HyTrEc)2 Project in which Aberdeen City Council is a partner. This is part of the Aberdeen City Region Hydrogen Strategy and Action Plan 2015-2025 to develop a hydrogen economy in the region.
The distinctive cars are already becoming a familiar sight on the Aberdeen roads, with the Council already using the Mirai as part of its fleet.
The two new additions to the public Co-wheels hire pool will be available from mid-January and will be stationed at Gallowgate Car Park and East Craibstone Street.
Aberdeen has two hydrogen refuelling stations, at Kittybrewster and Cove, to support the growing fleet of cars, buses and commercial vehicles operating in the city as part of the innovative programme.
Councillor Philip Bell, Aberdeen City Council’s HyTrEc2 spokesperson, said: “The latest additions to the fleet is another positive step forward for hydrogen in the city and demonstrates the commitment to embrace a clean, green and sustainable technology.
“Toyota have been at the forefront of research and development of hydrogen as a fuel of the future and it is fantastic to see vehicles being pressed into everyday use.
“Having embraced the opportunities from an early stage, Aberdeen is already leading the way and we’ll continue to look for opportunities to maximise the potential of the investment that has been made in infrastructure and vehicles.”
Co-wheels Car Club Scotland Manager, Tony Archer said: “Co-wheels is delighted to be building on the work we have been doing in Aberdeen, in partnership with Aberdeen City Council, to roll out access to Hydrogen cars. This deployment represents the first public hire Toyota Mirai in the UK and is a milestone that has been long awaited by many of our Aberdeen members eager to try out hydrogen cars.”
Co-wheels will also be adding a third new Toyota Mirai to its growing fleet of hydrogen vehicles in Aberdeen with a car entering service at Robert Gordons University where it will join existing staff pool car fleet operated by Co-wheels.
Vicki Nairn, Vice Principal for Corporate Operations at RGU, said: “We are delighted to unveil the Toyota Mirai hydrogen vehicle as part of the Co-Wheels fleet at Robert Gordon University. The university is fully committed to reducing its carbon footprint and this development represents our ongoing work to implement appropriate environmental programmes to deliver a truly sustainable campus – as well as driving down the cost of business travel within the city.”
The HyTrEc2 cars have also featured in a number of local press articles including:
For further information about Co-wheels Car Club visit www.co-wheels.org.uk
For further information on the HyTrEc2 project www.northsearegion.eu/hytrec2