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Hydrogen taxis to hit the road in Saudi Arabian trial

Saudi hydrogen taxi SPA
A Toyota Mirai of the sort that will be used in the trial of hydrogen powered taxis in Saudi Arabia
  • Pilot phase to use Toyota Mirai
  • TGA to develop hydrogen supplies
  • Toyota distributor is partner in trial

Saudi Arabia has announced a trial operation of its first hydrogen powered taxi.

The Transport General Authority (TGA) said the pilot phase will use Toyota Mirai vehicles, as it seeks to reduce carbon emissions and reduce reliance on internal combustion engine vehicles. 

The emission-free Toyota Mirai car has a range of 350 kilometres and the ability to run for up to eight hours a day.

The TGA will partner with Abdul Latif Jameel Motors, a distributor of Toyota vehicles in Saudi Arabia, to promote the use of eco-friendly vehicles.

 It will also collaborate with an industrial gas manufacturer, AHG Group, to develop supplies of hydrogen and collaborate on vehicle testing and research. 

Hydrogen fuel cell electric cars produce their own electricity through a chemical reaction in an onboard fuel cell stack. They are refuelled with hydrogen at a filling station, like a conventional petrol or diesel car, taking around three to five minutes to refuel, according to Toyota. 

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Kaust) signed Abdul Latif Jameel Motors in September to research the use of hydrogen fuel cells in vehicles such as taxis in Saudi Arabia, with a view to tailoring them to the region’s environmental conditions, focusing on efficiency and reliability.

Saudi Arabia has ambitious plans to become the world’s largest exporter of hydrogen by 2030. 

Last week, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) established a new entity to invest an estimated $10 billion into the production of green hydrogen.

Earlier this year, the minister of investment, Khalid Al Falih, said the kingdom was planning a series of hydrogen projects that would be managed by PIF

Acwa Power signed agreements in March to fund the world’s largest green hydrogen production facility at Neom, with a total investment of $8.5 billion.

The plant is expected to be producing green hydrogen from 100 percent renewable energy sources in 2026, with production of up to 1.2 million tonnes of green ammonia annually, or 600 tonnes of green hydrogen a day. 

The energy market information provider S&P Global Platts said in January that the total value of announced investments in hydrogen in the Middle East was expected to reach $44 billion, with announced projects worth about $35 billion to be operational by 2030.