CPB Contractors has introduced two of Toyota’s new Mirai fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) into its fleet of vehicles. The integration of hydrogen-fuelled vehicles follows the contractor’s successful Australian-first pilot of Toyota’s prototype HiAce, which was powered by a hydrogen-fuelled internal combustion engine (ICE) earlier in 2024.
The two Toyota Mirai vehicles have replaced traditional diesel or petrol-fuelled assets in Melbourne and Brisbane, and CPB Contractors is using them for carpooling, transporting workers between its projects in each city.
CPB Contractors General Manager Renewables, Systems and Technology, Jason Pearson said, “As a leading contractor, the size and scale of our projects present an incredible opportunity to trial new innovations to reduce emissions, create efficiencies, increase the demand for alternative clean(er) fuels and support the ESG targets of our projects, our clients and our business”.
“CPB Contractors is committed to playing a key role in delivering the critical infrastructure required to transition Australia to a new energy future, and a big part of that is supporting the demand for clean energy sources, including hydrogen. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with companies like Toyota, who are at the forefront of revolutionising transport and plant technology, so we can integrate low or zero-emission vehicles and plants across all of our projects and worksites and support further research, development and capacity for production,” said Jason.
To power the vehicles, CPB Contractors is accessing hydrogen from Toyota’s Product Centre in Altona, Melbourne, and from Port of Brisbane’s specialised hydrogen fuelling station. As access to hydrogen fuelling facilities becomes available, plans are in place to roll out the Toyota Mirai in New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia.
Toyota launched the second-generation Mirai for lease to its fleet customers in 2021. The Mirai is not directly linked to electricity from the grid; instead, it generates its own electricity from hydrogen and air, which is converted to electricity through its onboard fuel cell.
Toyota Australia Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Sean Hanley, said Toyota is proud to be working with long-standing partner, CPB Contractors to support their commitment to lowering emissions within their vehicle fleet.
“The Toyota Mirai FCEV is an important part of our multi-pathway approach to reducing carbon tailpipe emissions. Since 2018, Toyota has been expanding our hydrogen capability here in Australia, and our goal is to make hydrogen vehicles and technology more widely available to Australians… partnering with CPB Contractors is another step towards realising this.” Mr Hanley said.
In addition to integrating these two new-to-market hydrogen-fuelled vehicles, CPB Contractors is furthering its commitment to seeking optimal sustainable outcomes across its fleet and projects. The team has deployed two fully-electric Toyota bZ4X vehicles to its TasWater project in Tasmania. Also wrapped in CPB Contractors Indigenous artwork, these sustainable fleet additions have replaced two HiLux vehicles, with the company also purchasing a further 15 Toyota HiLux 48V V-Active technology vehicles to roll out to projects across the country.