Toyota launches new SORA fuel cell bus with Isuzu, range tops 300 km
In short
Toyota announced on Oct. 5 the launch of a new version of its SORA hydrogen fuel cell bus, developed jointly with Isuzu, with range extended by about 100 km to more than 300 km. Isuzu began selling an essentially identical bus, the Elga FCV, its first fuel cell bus, the same day. Asahi reported the new SORA is priced at 79.8 million yen excluding tax, about 20% below the previous model, while Nikkei reported Isuzu's Elga FCV price was not disclosed.
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Toyota Motor announced on Oct. 5 that it will sell a new version of its hydrogen-powered fuel cell bus SORA, with the range extended by about 100 km to more than 300 km, according to Nikkei and Asahi Shimbun. Isuzu Motors began selling an almost identical bus, the Elga FCV, the same day, marking its first fuel cell bus. Nikkei reported that the two vehicles share almost the same structure. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The new SORA was developed jointly by the two companies, combining a route bus platform developed by Isuzu with a fuel cell system developed by Toyota, Nikkei reported. Asahi reported there are four variants, including urban and suburban types, that the urban model has 19 seats and a capacity of 70 people, and that filling the hydrogen takes about 10 minutes. The bus can also serve as an emergency power source during disasters. Nikkei reported that the vehicle has a device to secure wheelchairs, functions to detect pedestrians and cyclists ahead and alert the driver, and equipment that slows and stops the bus if the driver becomes incapacitated, and that the fuel cell system and hydrogen tanks are placed on the roof to make maintenance smoother. [ 1 , 2 ]
On price, the accounts differed in scope: Asahi reported the new SORA costs 79.8 million yen excluding tax, about 20% less than the roughly 100 million yen of the first-generation model, with costs reduced by using Isuzu's platform for electric buses and cutting the number of hydrogen tanks from 10 to 3. Nikkei reported that the price of Isuzu's Elga FCV was not disclosed. [ 1 , 2 ]
Toyota has sold the SORA since 2018, and about 200 units have operated as route buses and in similar roles, Asahi reported, adding that the model is being renewed for the first time in eight years with the aim of wider adoption. Isuzu's Elga FCV is produced at the Utsunomiya plant of J-Bus, a joint venture between Isuzu and Hino Motors, according to Nikkei. Asahi noted that Toyota has developed commercial vehicles since launching the fuel cell car MIRAI in 2014, and described fuel cell vehicles, which emit only water and no greenhouse gases, as expected to be the “ultimate eco-car”. [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
The new model is Toyota's first refresh of the SORA since 2018 and its first bus developed with Isuzu, tying the two companies' bus and fuel cell operations together. Asahi reported the price is about 20% lower than the previous model, which the companies attribute to a shared electric bus platform and fewer hydrogen tanks, a step that could affect how far fuel cell buses spread in Japan. The documents give no sales targets or volume plans, so the commercial impact is not yet quantifiable.
Key facts
- Toyota announced on Oct. 5 a new model of its hydrogen fuel cell bus SORA, with range extended by about 100 km to more than 300 km. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The new SORA was developed jointly with Isuzu, which sells a bus of almost the same structure as the Elga FCV, its first fuel cell bus. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Isuzu's Elga FCV is produced at the Utsunomiya plant of J-Bus, a joint venture between Isuzu and Hino Motors. [ 1 ]
- Asahi reported there are four variants including urban and suburban models, that the urban model has 19 seats and a capacity of 70 people, and that hydrogen filling takes about 10 minutes. [ 2 ]
- Asahi reported the price of the new SORA at 79.8 million yen excluding tax, about 20% less than the roughly 100 million yen of the first generation, with costs cut by using Isuzu's electric bus platform and reducing hydrogen tanks from 10 to 3. [ 2 ]
- Nikkei reported that the price of Isuzu's Elga FCV was not disclosed. [ 1 ]
- The bus can be used as an emergency power source during disasters, and includes a device to secure wheelchairs, functions to detect pedestrians and cyclists ahead, and equipment that slows and stops the vehicle if the driver becomes incapacitated. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Toyota has sold the SORA since 2018, and about 200 units have been used as route buses and similar services. [ 1 , 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Toyota announced on Oct. 5 a new model of its SORA fuel cell bus. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The new model's range is more than 300 km, about 100 km longer than the previous version. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The bus was developed jointly with Isuzu, which sells an almost identical vehicle as the Elga FCV. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Toyota has sold the SORA since 2018. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- The price of the new bus Asahi reported the price of the new SORA at 79.8 million yen excluding tax, while Nikkei reported that the price of Isuzu's Elga FCV was not disclosed; no document states whether the two vehicles share a price or a price policy.
- Sales or production targets for the new model The documents describe the companies as aiming for wider use but give no volume or sales goals.
- Where the announcement was made No document states a city for the launch; the only location given is the J-Bus Utsunomiya plant where the Isuzu version is produced.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Nikkei reports that Toyota will launch the new SORA and that Isuzu will begin selling the Elga FCV the same day, with both based on the same structure. [ 1 ]
- Asahi reports the launch of the new SORA, with four variants, a 300 km-plus range and a price of 79.8 million yen excluding tax. [ 2 ]
- Tokyo Shimbun publishes a report on the new SORA, noting the range is 100 km longer. [ 3 ]