Al-Futtaim Motors, Toyota Motor Corporation and Masdar, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Air Liquide are to collaborate in a joint research programme to explore the potential of hydrogen energy use in the UAE for the creation of a sustainable, low-carbon society. As part of the programme, Toyota will begin driving and refuelling demonstration tests of the Mirai fuel cell vehicle (FCV) in the UAE from May 2017.
The agreement was announced 16th January at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. The programme’s partners will jointly research on key issues involving the establishment of a hydrogen-based society, including hydrogen production, logistics, scalability, and business feasibility. The research is expected to take place in part at Masdar Institute, an Abu Dhabi-based independent graduate research university, which has been part of the discussions on the scope of hydrogen research.
Utilising a hydrogen station that is to be built in May 2017, Toyota will conduct a complete range of driving and refuelling tests under extreme heat, dust, and other conditions unique to the local environment. Toyota will also provide short-term leases to the UAE government institutions and opinion leaders so as to promote better understanding of FCVs and hydrogen-based societies.
This collaborative research programme will explore the potential for hydrogen usage in Masdar City, a low carbon neighbourhood in Abu Dhabi, in line with UAE Vision 2021, the UAE government’s new national agenda which prioritises air quality improvement, expansion of the use of clean energies, and targets making the nation a world leader in infrastructure quality.