University College London (UCL) has added a Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell electric car to its fleet to expand its research into advanced powertrain technologies, and to provide zero-emission transport for staff.

UCL’s Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell electric car (pictured left)

Said to mark the first production fuel cell car run by a university, the Mirai will help the university with its studies into how fuel cells can be combined with new battery technologies while also providing a means of transportation for staff to travel to and from the university’s base in Bloomsbury and its new campus, UCL East, in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

The Toyota has been acquired with support from the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV), Hydrogen Mobility Europe (H2 ME) and the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCHJU).

Dr Michael Whiteley, head of fuel cell engineering at the UCL Electrochemical Innovation Lab, said: “Our research into fuel cell technology shows it’s a serious alternative to fossil fuel cars.

“We’ll be testing the car on London’s busy roads and using it to demonstrate the technology. The next stage of our work is to develop and evaluate hybrid, battery and fuel cell power systems for automotive applications, and having access to a fuel cell car will greatly enhance our position as a world-leader in fuel cell research and development.”