Photo Credit: Toyota Motor North AmericaVICTORVILLE – Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority’ s (VVWRA) SoCal Biomethane facility will supply renewable natural gas for Toyota Mirai cars at the Toyota Motor North America Inc.’s Logistics Services Center.
Anaergia, a world-wide waste to renewable energy conversion company, announced May 2, that its subsidiary SoCal Biomethane facility at VVWRA, will supply renewable natural gas for Toyota’s landmark port facility.
According to Toyota, each month their logistics center receives thousands of vehicles from Japan and Europe at the Port of Long Beach. After they arrive Toyota unloads, processes, fuels and prepares the vehicles for shipment to dealers.
Renewable Natural Gas
FuelCell Energy will convert SoCal Biomethane’s renewable natural gas to approximately 1.3 tons of renewable hydrogen per day. Their Tri-gen system is capable of generating hydrogen, electricity, and water. The fuel cells will add renewable electricity to the logistics center grid, as well as produce roughly 1,400 gallons of water a day that will be used for car-washing operations.
VVWRA and financing partner North Sky Capital developed the SoCal Biomethane facility through a public-private partnership. Food waste and municipal wastewater produces the supply of renewable natural gas.
“Renewable natural gas is a great way to produce renewable hydrogen and electricity at the scale required to support our Logistics facility’s carbon neutral goal,” said Toyota Motor North America Sustainability Manager Mark Yamauchi. “And because it is made from waste, renewable natural gas creates the type of circular economy that Toyota is working to expand.”
Natural Gas Vehicles
The US Department of Energy says natural gas powers more than 175,000 vehicles in the United States and roughly 23 million vehicles worldwide. They say the horsepower, acceleration, and cruise speed are comparable with those of equivalent, conventionally fueled vehicles. The cars produce reduced greenhouse gas emissions over conventional gasoline and diesel fuels.
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Some disadvantages to natural gas vehicles are, according to Kelley Blue Book, its shorter driving range, limited available vehicles and fewer fueling stations. As of 2021, there were 900 natural gas fueling stations nationwide.
The Toyota Mirai pricing starts at $49,500.
 SoCal Biomethane facility will supply renewable natural gas for 200,000 Toyota Mirai cars per year at the Toyota Motor North America Inc.’s (TMNA) Logistics Services Center at the Port of Long Beach. ){kind=link}