This bus is a concept that's set to debut at
the Tokyo Motor Show. But that won't be the last that residents and visitors to
the Japanese capital will see of it. Called the Sora, it' a city bus powered by
hydrogen fuel cells. Though shown in concept form, Toyota plans to make over
100 of them mostly for use in Tokyo – particularly during the forthcoming
Olympic games in 2020.
The powertrain is derived from that in the Mirai to
not only propel the vehicle around town, but also to serve as a power source in
disaster areas. Beyond its power, the Sora has also been designed to be
more convenient and comfortable for public-transit passengers and the drivers
moving them from station to station.
There's a bench, for example, that automatically
retracts to provide additional space for wheelchairs and strollers. Ther's also
an acceleration control function that keeps movement smooth (instead of jerking
passengers around inside) away from a stop. Eight high-definition cameras
inside and outside the vehicle help the driver keep an eye on passengers and
the surrounding area. It even features a system that helps it stop smoothly and
precisely at each station.
The 34-foot bus has room inside for 78 passengers
(22 seated and 56 standing), and looks better than most city transit vehicles
we've seen. Check it out for yourself in the image gallery below, and look
forward to taking a ride if you find yourself in Tokyo from next year.
