MechChem Africa January 2017

⎪ Back page ⎪

Mobile refueller for Mirai fuel-cell fleet

T oyotaAustraliahasunveiledamobile hydrogen refueller that will enable its three Mirai fuel-cell sedans to go anywhere that a conventional car can be driven. This breakthrough, which has been developed by the company’s local engineers and partner suppliers, represents a clever temporary solution to counter the current lack of a refuelling infrastructure in Australia for fuel-cell cars. TheMirai itself represents a turning point in the automotive industry, introducing a new agewhere electricity is generatedondemand using hydrogen as a fuel. Mirai – its name is Japanese for ‘future’ – is designed to diminish the world’s dependence on oil and reduce harmto theenvironment. Named2016World Green Car, Toyota’s Mirai is a remarkable zero-emissions car with all the convenience of today’s conventional vehicles. ToyotaAustralia’s fuel-cell project sponsor and senior executive adviser to the board, Bernie O’Connor, believes the mobile refuel- ler will be instrumental in demonstrating the significant benefits of owning a Mirai. As an

interim measure, Toyota’s mobile refueller incorporates a generator and a compressor mounted in a purpose-built trailer attached to a Hino 700-series truck. Hydrogen, delivered to the refueller in bottles, is cooled and pressurised to the re- quired70MPa(700bar)beforebeingpumped into the threeMirai sedans. The refueller can alsobeused todeliver hydrogen toother fuel- cell vehicles, such as buses and forklifts, as well as being capable of transporting a Mirai vehicle itself. “Thedecision to invest inamobile refueller demonstrates Toyota’s commitment tomain- taining its leading role in developing flexible and personal mobility solutions for the next 100 years. This is a practical and necessary measure to enable people to learn about and experience first-hand, the game-changing Mirai and its ground-breaking technology,” says O’Connor. O’Connor added that Toyotawill continue toworkwithgovernments, industryandother key stakeholders to fast-track the develop- ment of the refuelling infrastructure required to support thewidespread saleof fuel- cell vehicles. Mirai offers a driving range of ap- proximately 550 kmwhen its two on- board tanks arefilledwithabout 5.0kg of compressed hydrogen. Refuelling froma commercial site takes just three to fiveminutes – and the only exhaust gas emission is water vapour. Hydrogen is as safeas anyother au- tomotive fuel and, unlike fossil fuels, it does not contribute to global warming during vehicle operation. It is themost abundant element in the universe and canbeproduced fromalmost anything –including sewage sludge – by using

Altair................................................................................. 24 APE Pumps..................................................................... 35 AxiomHydraulics......................................................... 40 Bearings International............................................... 10 BMG.............................................................................. OFC Bonfiglioli......................................................................IBC Cummins Southern Africa........................................ 37 Flexicon........................................................................OBC Helukabel SA....................................................................9 productOne...................................................................IFC RB Engineering Services........................................... 15 SEW-EURODRIVE....................................................... 12 SKF........................................................................................3 SMC Pneumatics.......................................................... 43 ACI’s 8 th Carbon Dioxide Utilisation Summit  22-23 February 2017 San Antonio, Texas, USA Rohan Baryah rbaryah@acieu.co.uk +48 616 467 022 7 th Annual Africa New Energy Conference & Expo Including: CSP Today, Wind Energy Update and PV Insider 7-8 March, 2017, Cape Town AdamMinkley New Energy Update +44 20 7375 7239 adam@newenergyupdate.com Middle East Rail 2017 7-8 March, 2017 Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Dubai Mirai utilises the same hybrid technology developed for Toyota’s hybrid synergy drive systems, replacing the petrol engine with a fuel-cell stack. TheMirai is available in Japan, Europe and the United States and there are currently no plans to introduce it in South Africa. There are also no plans to offer the car in Australia ahead of the development of an appropriate hydrogen-refuelling infra- structure. q Prima Castelino +971 4 440 2535 prima.castelino@terrapinn.com Index to advertisers Industry diary primaryenergy sources suchas pollution-free solar and wind power. Mirai is also fun todrive, deliveringpunchy performance while offering the convenience and driving pleasure of a conventional car. It produces maximum power of above 110 kW from its fuel-cell stack through the electric motor.

Toyota Australia’s mobile hydrogen refueller incor- porates a generator and a compressor mounted in a purpose-built trailer attached to a Hino 700-series truck.

African Energy Indaba, 2017 The African Energy Indaba 2017 Conference and Exhibition will be held at the Sandton Convention Centre on February 21 and 22, 2017. “The Africa Energy Indaba provides the process for you tomeet with others who share your dream of a thriving Africa; a continent where all its citizens prosper; a continent we are proud to call home,” says conference chairman, Brian Stratham. “I invite you to step forward; share your knowledge and expertise and open your mind to receive the wisdom and experience of others,” he adds. The Indabawill alsohost the SE4ALL (sustainable energy for all)member countries that will be showcasing their high priority renewable energy project opportunities, identified at country level as the high priority projects. African SE4ALL countries will be present to showcase their Investment Prospectus and potential investors will have the opportunity to carefully examine each project, enter into one-to-one discussions with the project owners and conclude specific deals with the project owners. This initiative is being facilitated by the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency.

44 ¦ MechChem Africa • January 2017