Toyota Motor Corporation will explore the potential of hydrogen energy use in vehicles in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Toyota announced on Monday.
The joint research program will be carried out in collaboration with renewable energy company Masdar, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, French multinational company Air Liquide and Toyota distributor Al-Futtaim Motors.
The program partners will jointly research key issues involving the establishment of a hydrogen-based society, including hydrogen production, logistics, scalability, and business feasibility.
Also as part of the program, Toyota will begin driving and refueling demonstration tests of its Mirai fuel cell vehicle, which runs on hydrogen, in the UAE from May 2017.
'Utilizing a hydrogen station that is to be built in May 2017, Toyota will conduct a complete range of driving and refueling tests under extreme heat, dust, and other conditions unique to the local environment,' Toyota said.
Toyota unveiled the Mirai model at the November 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show. Toyota is currently selling the hydrogen-fuelled zero emissions Mirai vehicle, which only emits water, in Japan, the U.S. and Europe.
'As the government continues to promote new initiatives and pursues the creation of a hydrogen-based society, the UAE is able to emerge as the world leader of next-generation clean energies,' said Takeshi Uchiyamada, chairman of the Toyota Motor Corporation board of directors.
'Hydrogen can make an important contribution towards the UAE's target for a 50 percent low carbon energy mix by 2050,' said Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar.
By Zeynep Beyza Kilic
Anadolu Agency
zeynep.karabay@aa.com.tr