Zero emissions was once the ultimate goal. Now, instead, it becomes merely a milestone on the long journey towards electrified mobility. Toyota aims to go Beyond Zero, towards vehicles that will emit only water and will allow us to breathe cleaner air. Beyond zero emissions, then, but not only that: in its journey of transformation from a car manufacturer into a mobility company, the Toyota Group wants to contribute to the creation of a sustainable and inclusive future mobility, to overcome every barrier and limitation, so that no one is left behind.

Zero emissions: here's how they can be surpassed

From reducing to eliminating emissions, Toyota began charting the course back in 1997, bringing full hybrid technology to market, and continuing with plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles. Now, with hydrogen and fuel cell technology, it is possible to push even further, towards "negative emissions" — that is, vehicles capable of effectively cleaning the air as they move. This is the case of the new Mirai, a saloon car whose propulsion requires only hydrogen: by generating electricity in the fuel cells, this powers the electric motor without producing pollutants, only water vapour; thanks to a catalytic filter incorporated in the air intake, the car captures microscopic particles of pollutants, including sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and pm 2.5 particulate matter.

By 2025, Toyota plans to launch a total of 40 electrified vehicles, considering both new models and evolutions with new powertrains of those already on the market, in order to offer the widest possible range of electrified powertrains. This will translate into a powertrain mix composed of at least 70 per cent hybrid, more than 10 per cent plug-in, and a further 10 per cent zero-emission. The Japanese manufacturer's fuel cell technology is, moreover, extremely flexible and can be used not only on cars: it lends itself to a range of other zero-emission applications such as trucks, buses, lorries and ships.

With hydrogen, towards a new concept of mobility

We are heading, in short, towards a true hydrogen society, centred on a new concept of mobility. A mobility conceived for everyone, from elderly people to Paralympic athletes: beyond barriers and limitations, therefore; starting from the assumption that, if no one is left behind, there are greater benefits for the entire community.

Two other central elements fit into this picture. The first concerns advanced safety technologies, to bring the goal of eliminating road accidents as close as possible, together with connectivity systems to ensure safer and more enjoyable driving and an attention to product quality aimed at strengthening the relationship of trust with customers. The second concerns the range of services and solutions that go well beyond mere vehicle ownership. Starting with KINTO, the new brand dedicated to mobility services, introduced by the Toyota Group in January 2020, which from a single platform allows users to range from car sharing to car pooling, through to integration with public transport and "dialogue" with smart cities. WeHybrid is instead an "ecosystem" of technologies and services whose ultimate objective is to promote sustainable zero-emission mobility: the main protagonist is the person using the vehicle, who will be able to enjoy growing benefits based on their ability to travel longer in electric mode, improving not only their own quality of life but also that of the community. No longer customers at the centre, therefore, but people, all the way up to society as a whole. A better society for everyone in which the various ecosystems are connected to one another, which will find expression in the revolutionary Woven City, the prototype city of the future inaugurated at the end of February with the laying of the first stone.