Toyota joins Tokyo’s ambitious Toyota Motor Corporation has recently become a part of the "TOKYO H2" project, which is a public-private partnership launched by Tokyo’s government with the goal of making the city a leading hub for hydrogen energy worldwide.

Toyota joins Tokyo’s ambitious

Toyota Motor Corporation has recently become a part of the "TOKYO H2" project, which is a public-private partnership launched by Tokyo’s government with the goal of making the city a leading hub for hydrogen energy worldwide. At the heart of this initiative is the plan to introduce Toyota’s Crown fuel cell vehicle (FCEV) into Tokyo’s fleet of hydrogen-powered taxis. The Crown model, in particular, is designed to showcase the quiet, smooth operation typical of fuel cell tech, while also offering plenty of space in the back for passengers and easy access for getting in and out. The idea is to give riders a more premium experience that kind of outshines regular taxis. Toyota has pledged to roll out 200 Crown vehicles by fiscal year 2025, supporting the broader government target of roughly 600 fuel cell taxis across Tokyo by 2030.

Another key piece of this strategy is the reopening of the TOYOTA MIRAI Showroom in Minato City, now operating as the TOKYO H2 HUB. This space is more than just a showroom; it’s meant to be a central point for companies and organizations working on hydrogen technologies and advancing a hydrogen-based society. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is coordinating efforts with a unified brand across the city, aiming to boost public awareness and stimulate demand for hydrogen solutions—especially in commercial transport sectors like taxis and delivery trucks. It’s pretty interesting, right? The entire city is visibly shifting towards embracing hydrogen power.

Now, even with Toyota’s push into hydrogen taxis and commercial vehicles, they’re also aware of the immense popularity of electric vehicles (EVs), which dominate the debate when it comes to reducing carbon emissions. Since launching the Mirai back in 2014, Toyota’s overall sales of fuel cell vehicles have been relatively small—about 27,500 units sold worldwide over ten years. That’s not a lot in the grand scheme and reflects some of the market’s hesitation, plus the high costs tied to fuel cell tech and infrastructure. Still, Toyota remains convinced that hydrogen will be a vital part of decarbonizing transportation in the future—especially for heavier-duty vehicles like trucks, buses, and vans. They’re working on projects with partners like Isuzu to develop light-duty hydrogen trucks, which sounds promising.

This approach isn’t just a sideline for Toyota; it fits into their broader strategy for sustainable mobility. They’re also working on improving traditional internal combustion engines by using greener fuels, like hydrogen and bioethanol—often combined with electric motors. Toyota’s CEO, Koji Sato, has pointed out that jumping straight into mass EV adoption isn’t practical or responsible, especially considering the large number of jobs tied to conventional vehicle manufacturing. Many experts, including prominent academic Takahiro Fujimoto, argue that achieving true carbon neutrality requires a mix of different technologies and plenty of time. Electric vehicles are critical, yes, but they also come with their own resource challenges, like battery production and disposal.

Toyota’s hydrogen initiatives are also supported through significant corporate partnerships. One example is the recent merger worth $6.4 billion between Toyota’s Hino Motors and Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus, which is part of a strategy to lead in hydrogen commercial vehicles. This alliance helps boost investments in hydrogen tech, which is crucial as the trucking industry faces increasing competition and stricter regulations. The plan is to get these joint efforts operational by April 2026, with plans to ramp up their influence on the market.

On top of all that, Toyota is collaborating with ENEOS Corporation on projects at Woven City, their prototype city of the future. This involves investigating the full hydrogen supply chain—everything from how hydrogen is produced, delivered, stored, and used. They’re testing hydrogen station setups and fuel cell generators to support mobility solutions in this smart city environment. It’s a clear demonstration of their long-term commitment to creating a sustainable hydrogen ecosystem, both locally and globally.

And it’s not just about vehicles—Toyota is playing a leading role in the Hydrogen Council, a global CEO-led group dedicated to fast-tracking hydrogen’s development and commercialization across various industries beyond just automobiles. It’s pretty inspiring to see how committed Toyota is to integrating hydrogen into the future of clean energy, right?
In summary, moving forward with the TOKYO H2 project shows Toyota’s clear focus on hydrogen as a core part of its overall plan for eco-friendly mobility. Sure, hurdles like cost and infrastructure still exist, but with ongoing investments, global collaborations, and urban pilot programs, Toyota seems determined to make hydrogen a mainstream energy source—especially in large-scale transport and city-based applications like taxis—where the public impact could be pretty significant.

Source: Noah Wire Services