Toyota tries using wind power to produce hydrogen in Japan

Toyota is experimenting with using wind power to produce hydrogen for its Mirai sedan in Japan. However, the hydrogen that it produces from wind power will only be used for fuel-cell forklifts, according to the Associated Press. The hydrogen is produced at a wind-power plant in Yokohama, southwest of Tokyo. This project sees Toyota partner with the cities of Yokohama and Kawasaki, and the government of Kanagawa prefecture, Toshiba and Iwatani are also involved. Toyota has said it plans to deliver 3,000 cars to the US by the end of 2017. Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe hopes to create a "hydrogen society" to reduce Japan's dependence on imported oil, and provide an alternative to nuclear power after the Fukushima disaster.  

One of the big questions surrounding hydrogen fuel-cell cars is how to produce the hydrogen used to power them.

Mass adoption of fuel-cell vehicles would not only require much more hydrogen than is currently available, but hydrogen that is generated with minimal carbon emissions.

Today's hydrogen production methods increase a fuel-cell vehicle's overall carbon footprint beyond that of a battery-electric vehicle.

DON'T MISS: Toyota, Honda, Nissan Set Details Of Hydrogen Network In Japan (Jul 2015)

So Toyota is experimenting with using wind power to produce hydrogen for its Mirai sedan in Japan.

However, the carmaker hasn't quite gotten there yet.

It has a project to produce hydrogen using wind power, but only for fuel-cell forklifts, reports the Associated Press.

2016 Toyota Mirai construction at Motomachi plant

The hydrogen is produced at a wind-power plant in Yokohama, southwest of Tokyo.

It's then transported by truck to four nearby industrial sites, including a factory, a vegetable-and-fruit market, and two warehouses.

The trucks that transport the hydrogen also act as mobile fueling stations.

ALSO SEE: Japan To Spend $385 Million On Hydrogen For 2020 Olympics Deadline (Jan 2015)

The project is a partnership between Toyota, the cities of Yokohama and Kawasaki, and the government of Kanagawa prefecture, with electronics company Toshiba and energy company Iwatani also involved.

In theory, the same wind plant could supply hydrogen for Mirai fuel-cell sedans, although there are still relatively few of those on Japanese roads.

Despite generous tax incentives for private buyers, the majority of Mirai sedans in Japan are reportedly leased for government or corporate fleet use.

2016 Toyota Mirai

In the U.S., Toyota has said it plans to deliver 3,000 cars by the end of 2017. As of last month, it had delivered 128 over five months.

The Honda Clarity Fuel Cell also recently went on sale in Japan, but won't arrive in the U.S. until later this year.

Japan's government plans to showcase hydrogen fuel-cell technology at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

MORE: Japan's Ambitious Hydrogen-Vehicle Plans Stumble, With Bureaucracy To Blame (Dec 2015)

That includes plans to build more hydrogen fueling stations, and put more fuel-cell vehicles into service.

It's part of a larger effort by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to create a "hydrogen society," in which fuel cells are used to power buildings and infrastructure, as well as vehicles.

It's hoped that this will reduce Japan's dependence on imported oil, and provide an alternative to nuclear power in the wake of the Fukushima disaster.

_______________________________________________

Follow GreenCarReports on Facebook and Twitter