Toyota takes to the seas to support the fuel of the future

Energy Observer, the first world’s hydrogen vessel and supported by Toyota, has docked in London as part of its six-year global tour.

Having sailed 18,000 emission free nautical miles since leaving St Malo, France, in 2017, the floating laboratory will be based under Tower Bridge, London, from October 5-13, accompanied by a travelling exhibition, at St Katharine Docks (open to the public weekdays 11am to 6pm and 10am to 6pm weekends).

London is the 47th stop in Energy Observer’s tour and the expedition in northern Europe included a 5,700km voyage last August from Russia to Norway powered solely by renewable energies and hydrogen, without emissions, without fine particles and without noise.

Hydrogen is at the very heart of the Energy Observer project and the major reason for Toyota’s participation as official partner of the global voyage.

Energy Observer operates thanks to a revolutionary energy mix composed of three sources of renewable energy (solar, wind, hydro-generation) and a complete chain of carbon-free hydrogen (produced by seawater electrolysis).

Carbon-free hydrogen has huge potential to support a sustainable energy transition. The energy mix developed on Energy Observer shows that practical alternatives to fossil fuels do exist and can be developed both on land and at sea.

Toyota has been pioneering hydrogen technology for more than 25 years, carrying out extensive testing in demanding conditions to ensure hydrogen can work as a practical fuel alternative.

Hydrogen allows for quick refuelling, a significant driving range and a great emission-free driving experience that is helping to power cars, like the Toyota Mirai, as well as buses, trucks and even forklifts. The Mirai has been on sale since 2014 with 9,000 cars sold worldwide (130+ in the UK).