For the first time, New Zealand business customers can rent a Toyota Mirai through Ezi Car Rental and see what it's like to go places with hydrogen, all from Palmerston North Airport.
From yesterday, Ezi Car Rental has added three Toyota Mirai fuel cell electric sedans (FCEVs) to its Palmerston North Airport fleet, available for hire for up to two days for eligible corporate customers. Powered by the Hiringa hydrogen refuelling station near the airport, the Mirai is the first hydrogen vehicle available through a New Zealand rental fleet.
Mirai arrived on New Zealand roads in 2022, however for most New Zealanders hydrogen-powered cars are an unfamiliar concept.
Mirai is a second-generation hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV). It generates electricity by combining hydrogen with oxygen and emits only water vapour. Each rental vehicle will have a rental range of 250km of travelling, making it well suited for business travel throughout Palmerston North and the surrounding Manawatū region. Vehicles are available for rental periods of up to two days.
Anthony Kearns, Chief Executive, Ezi Car Rental says, “Most of our customers have never seen a hydrogen vehicle, let alone driven one. That’s exactly why we wanted to be part of this. The Mirai is a special experience, and renting one takes no more effort than hiring any other car with us. Once people try it, it will change how they think about travel. We’re proud to be the first rental company in Aotearoa to pilot this and we’re excited to see the reaction from our corporate customers.”
Operating 24 locations across New Zealand, including 18 airport sites, Ezi Car Rental has the infrastructure and the customer base to make hydrogen rental practical. The Palmerston North Airport location sits alongside the Hiringa refuelling station, ensuring every Mirai is supplied with sufficient hydrogen for approximately 250km of driving.
Tatsuya Ishikawa, Chief Executive Officer at Toyota New Zealand, says Ezi Car Rental, which became part of the Toyota family in 2023, is a natural partner in helping more New Zealanders experience Toyota’s range of electrified and low-emission vehicle technologies firsthand.
Following the introduction of the battery electric bZ4X rental programme in Auckland, the availability of the hydrogen-powered Mirai in Manawatū represents the next step in Toyota New Zealand’s efforts to give more people the opportunity to experience different powertrain technologies and understand how they can fit a range of lifestyles and transport needs.
“The best way to understand new vehicle technologies is to experience them first-hand. Whether it’s battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell, experiencing these vehicles helps people better understand the role they can play in New Zealand’s future transport mix. The Mirai is a premium car, it drives beautifully, and making it available in the Manawatū is about putting that experience within reach of more New Zealanders,” he says.
Toyota-trained technicians are on hand to support the Manawatū Mirai fleet, and the Mirai’s safety credentials are well established – the ANCAP rating for the second-generation Mirai FCEV is the highest achievable at a full 5 stars.
Toyota New Zealand is committed to a carbon-neutral future and has invested in a multi-powertrain strategy that focuses on a diverse mix of low emitting vehicles to reduce carbon emissions, while meeting customer needs. Mirai and its hydrogen fuel cell technology is a decarbonising opportunity that works alongside an increasing supply of Battery Electric, Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid solutions.
The Toyota Mirai is now available to book through the Ezi Business portal at www.ezibusiness.co.nz for eligible corporate customers. Please note this is available exclusively from Palmerston North Airport.
