Toyota New Zealand and Obayashi Corporation have today announced that they are partnering to provide green hydrogen refuelling for the Toyota Hydrogen Project Car Share scheme.

The Toyota Hydrogen Project Car Share scheme was launched in April and involves Toyota partnering with eight Kiwi brands including The Warehouse Group, Air New Zealand, Saatchi & Saatchi, TVNZ, Beca, Westpac NZ, Spark, and Z Energy, to share a fleet of Toyota Mirai.

Toyota NZ is further supporting the development of Aotearoa New Zealand’s green hydrogen industry, announcing an official fuel partnership that will see its Toyota Mirai fleet in Auckland powered by domestically produced, 100 percent green hydrogen.

The new agreement will see Halcyon Power Limited, a joint venture partnership between Obayashi Corporation and Tūaropaki Trust, supply Toyota NZ with 100 percent green hydrogen, domestically produced at the hydrogen production plant at Mōkai.

Toyota NZ Chief Executive Officer, Neeraj Lala, says the brand was adamant it would only work with a refuelling partner who could provide 100 percent green hydrogen, to avoid any requirement for carbon offsetting, and ensure the fleet was operating with net zero carbon emissions.

 “We’re very pleased to be partnering with Obayashi Corporation, who through their partnership with Tūaropaki Trust, are utilising New Zealand’s geothermal resources to provide a completely renewable, zero emissions hydrogen to power the Hydrogen Car Share Project,” he says.

“Like us, Obayashi Corporation and the Trust are committed to a carbon-neutral future. This pilot project is crucial in demonstrating the practical and commercial application of hydrogen fuel cell technology and provides Toyota New Zealand with another opportunity to explore new environmentally sustainable options for the domestic market.”

Having a carbon-neutral and renewable source of production energy for Halcyon through Tūaropaki Power Company’s geothermal power station and hydrogen being a zero operating emissions transport fuel was integral to Tūaropaki Trust’s involvement in hydrogen.

Lala says the Toyota Hydrogen Projects support Toyota’s aim of transitioning into a mobility company that is focused on mobility for all. He says the announcement has demonstrable benefits for the domestic hydrogen industry, and for New Zealand’s transport emissions.