Toyota New Zealand has just announced an innovative partnership with eight Auckland-based companies to provide a fleet of hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai.

The scheme is the first commercial application of hydrogen fuel cell technology in New Zealand.

Hyundai New Zealand has the Nexo hydrogen car here but is “currently unavailable for purchase” says the Korean brand.

Toyota has partnered with eight key New Zealand organisations to join them in a car-sharing scheme that started on May 1. These companies are: The Warehouse Group, Air New Zealand, Saatchi & Saatchi, TVNZ, Beca, Westpac NZ, Spark, and Z Energy.

The vehicles will all be refuelled using green hydrogen. There are now a number of hydrogen stations in New Zealand.

Toyota New Zealand Chief Executive Neeraj Lala says Toyota is focused on looking at other opportunities to trial the applications of hydrogen technology outside of the automotive sector.

“Hydrogen fuel cell technology is another step in the journey to a zero-emissions transport eco-system. The commercial application of this technology is vast and Toyota has the means to explore new technologies,” he says. 

“These Kiwi companies have joined together to demonstrate the commercial possibilities of hydrogen technology in a real-world car-sharing trial. Toyota and our Hydrogen Project members are committed to a carbon-neutral future.”

 “This trial also showcases the ability for large companies to join together to share their fleets, which in the future could lead to a larger reduction in carbon emissions when you are talking about sharing say 100 cars,” he says.

Lala is currently in Japan having joined Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s first Trade Mission to Japan as a delegate. 

“Our role is to support (the) Government and present the hydrogen opportunity and grow the hydrogen economy in New Zealand. This isn’t about selling cars, but selling a dream that could easily become reality,” said Lala in a Facebook post.

“(I’m)speaking with PM Kishida-san and PM Ardern to launch the hydrogen opportunity is going to be up there for our company as we focus on NetZero by 2050.”