Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) and the Japanese Red Cross Kumamoto Hospital in central Kyushu prefecture will begin demonstration testing of the world’s first fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) mobile clinic by the summer of 2021.

The vehicle will use hydrogen to generate zero-emissions electricity, contributing to the reduction of CO₂ emissions in the atmosphere. The FCEV mobile clinic could be used to deliver everyday medical services and could also be used to support disaster relief efforts, and to supply electricity as part of a disaster response.

The FCEV mobile clinic is based on Toyota’s Coaster minibus, powered by the Toyota fuel cell system used by the Mirai FCEV saloon. It produces no CO₂ or other harmful emissions, while offering a quiet and smooth driving experience.

The vehicle is able to supply electricity to a variety of electrical products through multiple 100 VAC accessory power outlets both inside and outside the vehicle. It is also equipped with an external DC electric power supply system to deliver a high-output, high-capacity power supply (9kW maximum output, approximately 90kWh supply capacity). Inside, the vehicle combines air conditioning with an exhaust system and HEPA filter to improve infection control while occupants are working.

Toyota and Japanese Red Cross Kumamoto Hospital believe the FCEV mobile clinic will provide versatility not found in conventional mobile clinics. Bringing their respective knowledge and technologies to the development and using the exceptional environmental performance that is unique to FCEVs, they aim to explore expanded applications.

In addition to emergency transportation of patients, they believe the FCEV mobile clinic has the potential for a wide range of applications and developments in the healthcare field, including supplying electricity to blood donation buses and medical examination vehicles, travelling to less-populated areas as a mobile clinic, and to provide mobile polymerase chain reaction (PCR) virus tests.