Toyota Unveils Second-Generation Sora Hydrogen Bus With 50 Percent More Range
The new FCEV bus features an 88-kWh battery and can be refueled in approximately 10 minutes.
Toyota and Isuzu have unveiled the second-generation Sora, a hydrogen fuel cell bus that delivers approximately 50 percent more range than its predecessor. The new vehicle utilizes a roof-mounted fuel cell stack to generate electricity for an Isuzu-built powertrain, marking a significant update in the Japanese automakers' joint commercial vehicle efforts.
What Happened
The new Sora bus is powered by a roof-mounted hydrogen fuel cell stack that generates electric power sent to an electric powertrain manufactured by Isuzu. Essentially, the vehicle is a rebadged Isuzu ERGA EV, which originally debuted in 2024, with the addition of hydrogen infrastructure. Under the skin, the bus features two 110-kilowatt electric motors producing a combined 295 horsepower and 715 pound-feet of torque. These motors draw energy from an 88-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery, enabling a driving range of over 186 miles (300 kilometers). This represents a roughly 50 percent increase compared to the first-generation Sora bus, which launched in 2018. The fuel cell stack itself is capable of delivering up to 113 kW of power.
Why It Matters
For transit agencies and operators, the extended range and rapid refueling capabilities address key operational constraints. The bus’s 471-liter hydrogen tanks can be refilled in about ten minutes, with Toyota claiming that future filling stations could cut this time in half. The vehicle also retains the ability to export power from its high-voltage battery via an external supply, serving as an emergency power source during grid outages or disasters. On the safety front, the new model includes an Emergency Driver Stop System (EDSS) and a Driver Status Monitor (DSM) designed to bring the bus to a complete stop if the driver becomes incapacitated. The interior features a fully flat floor and an optional one-touch securement system to assist wheelchair users, with four distinct versions available for urban and suburban routes.
The Bottom Line
Production of the second-generation Toyota Sora is expected to begin in the 2026 fiscal year, which runs from April 2026 to March 2027. The buses will be manufactured by J-Bus, a 50:50 joint venture between Isuzu and Hino Motors, at the Utsunomiya Plant in Japan’s Tochigi Prefecture.
