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Toyota Fuel Cell Bus Bows in Japan

Toyota Motor Corp. has launched sales of the Sora fuel cell bus in Japan.

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Toyota Motor Corp. has launched sales of the Sora fuel cell bus in Japan.

The carmaker aims to deliver more than 100 of the vehicles, which it says is the first fuel cell bus to be certified in the country, ahead of the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo. The bulk of the sales are expected to be in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

The Sora (which stands for sky, ocean, river and air), will be powered by a larger version of the fuel cell system Toyota developed for its Mirai fuel cell car. The bus uses twin 114-kW fuel cell stacks that power a pair of electric motors to produce a combined 303 hp and 494 lb-ft of torque.


Ten high-pressure hydrogen storage tanks can hold 600 liters of fuel. The fuel cell system is paired with a nickel-metal-hydride battery. A high-capacity external power output device can serve as an emergency power source.

Measuring more than 34 ft long, the Sora can carry as many as 79 passengers. The bus also is equipped with eight high-definition cameras to detect pedestrians and bicyclists and alerts the driver of their presence.

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