Derby City Council has signed a partnership agreement with Toyota to help it plan its future transport systems.
The partnership with Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK, named T-DREAM (Toyota-Derby Revolution in Energy and Access to Mobility), will try to design an environmentally way forward as the country strives to attain net zero-carbon emissions.
The partnership will focus on a number of projects over the next two to three years, including exploration into how people can work together to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emissions in Derby, while boosting the local economy, reports Business Live.
Last year, the city council announced its strategy to become a UK centre of excellence for future fuel technologies – using the city’s world leading advance engineering to revolutionise the way low-carbon energy is used to power businesses, transport and homes.
City council leader Coun Chris Poulter said: “This partnership means we can build opportunities for our communities and the economy of the future. Together we can explore these high-level issues and find where our shared skills, knowledge and expertise can improve quality of life in Derby.”
Richard Kenworthy, Managing Director of Toyota Motor Manufacturing said: “The signing of the collaboration agreement allows Toyota the opportunity to explore mobility products and solutions to support Derby city in achieving its climate agenda.
“Toyota’s ambition is to be a mobility company. We want to be able to propose sustainable mobility products and services to a wide variety of stakeholders with a strong focus on hydrogen and the role that it can play in transforming society. Derby City’s goals are very much in line with our own and this partnership agreement reinforces that collaboration going forward.”
The council will soon publish results of a study into how hydrogen could be rolled out in Derby and across the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership area.
City council chief executive Paul Simpson said: “Our ambition is to support thriving economies, build sustainably, and create stronger urban communities. Covid-19 has demonstrated what is possible when we work together; creating an environment to deepen and extend our relationships.
“It is vital to our recovery to reach beyond organisational boundaries and across sectors, as well as local and national boundaries, to build partnerships. This agreement signals a shared vision for deeper collaboration and creates a strategic partnership built on shared exploration and learning to support thriving economies, build sustainability, and create stronger urban communities.”
