London taxi firm creates cab that only emits water and no harmful fumes

London’s first hydrogen-fuelled minicabs took to the streets this week powered by motors so green their only “emission” is water pure enough to drink.

Two Toyota Mirai saloons began picking up passengers days after world leaders signed the Paris accord recognising the “urgent and potentially irreversible threat” to Earth from climate change caused by carbon emissions.

The vehicles, operated by Green Tomato Cars, have fuel cells that use hydrogen gas stored in two tanks, behind the rear seats and under the back axle, to generate electricity.

There is also a conventional battery as back-up. The only by-product is warm water vapour emitted through a plastic tail pipe that condenses as it hits the cooler air.

The very first customer was Imperial College student doctor Holly Tucker, 23, who ordered a car to take her to the West End for Christmas shopping.

Clean water comes out of the taxi's tank
Jeremy Selwyn

She said: “It’s amazing, I get a cab about once a week because I’m often leaving hospital very late to get home to Wimbledon. I nearly always get one from Green Tomato because they use eco-friendly cars, so anything more I can do to reduce my footprint is great.”

The vehicles have a range of up to 300 miles in town with a full tank — far more than a electric car — and only take about three to five minutes to refill.

They have a top speed of more than 100mph and can accelerate from 0 to 62mph in under 10 seconds.

One drawback is that there are currently only two refuelling points, one in Hatton Cross near Heathrow and one in Hendon.

Jonathan Prynn polishes off a glass of the taxi's 'fumes'
Jeremy Selwyn

Driver Mark Grose said he had to plan his day so that his route took him near them at least once. He added that the cars, though quiet, were “a bit noisier” than an electric vehicle.

Green Tomato operates a fleet of 600 cars in London, most of them hybrid Toyota Prius models.

The new hydrogen powered taxi
Jeremy Selwyn

Josh Greedy, the firm’s director of marketing, said he hoped to have another five hydrogen vehicles by early next year.

They cost about £66,000 — around twice the price of a Prius hybrid — but are cheap to run because they have so few moving parts and need little maintenance, he said.

Toyota has made about 500 Mirai — Japanese for “future”. Only 12 have been exported to Britain.

Scientists have warned nitrogen dioxide and particulate pollution from ordinary car engines leads to tens of thousands of premature deaths a year in Britain, and nearly 10,000 a year in London alone.

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