Equipped with Toyota's fuel cell system, it has been designed to offer people ever greater freedom of movement, while remaining mindful of environmental compatibility. And new on-board technologies enhance the safety of both passengers and pedestrians.
"Start your impossible": with this claim that sounds more like a mission, a challenge, a great undertaking, Toyota has inaugurated the transition from automotive brand to a company that embraces mobility alternatives, driven by the desire to contribute to the improvement of people's lives by creating a more inclusive and sustainable society where pushing one's own limits becomes possible. Part of this global initiative is the launch onto the market, last March, of Sora, the first fuel cell bus to have obtained type approval certification in Japan. What does the name mean? It is the acronym for Sky, Ocean, River, Air, representing the water cycle on Earth.
Toyota plans to introduce around one hundred hydrogen buses in the greater Tokyo area ahead of the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in the Japanese capital. Designed to offer freedom of movement and to become an urban icon, Sora is a vehicle at the service of society: it meets environmental sustainability requirements thanks to Toyota Fuel Cell System (TFCS) technology, which eliminates CO2 emissions and pollutants (like the Mirai, it emits only water vapour) and, in the event of emergencies, can be used as a power generator, as it is equipped with a high-capacity power supply system capable of delivering a maximum of 9 kW and 235 kWh2.
Sora's design departs in part from the typical box shape of buses, gaining a stereoscopic effect that makes it instantly recognisable, along with its LED lights at the front and rear. A distinctive feature of the interior is that the seats fold away automatically when not in use, improving comfort for passengers — particularly those with pushchairs or in wheelchairs.
Sora's technology enhances safety for passengers on board and for pedestrians and cyclists on the road. A dedicated system installed on the bus eliminates the risk of sudden acceleration that could jeopardise the safety of standing passengers, while the automatic transmission also eliminates the risk of swerving. The bus is also equipped with a system of eight high-definition cameras, mounted both inside and outside the vehicle, which supplements the driver's field of vision by detecting the presence of pedestrians and cyclists while in motion. At bus stops, the technology also alerts the driver with audible notifications if there are people around the vehicle.
