The global pandemic requires a global response, something that’s been clear from the beginning. The difference between understanding that and actually carrying it out is vast—but getting vaccines to isolated populations in developing countries also something that doctors have had significant experience with in the last few decades. Several of the COVID-19 vaccines present additional challenges, requiring significant refrigeration to stay viable. A specialized vehicle to carry these vaccines at the appropriate temperature is just the ticket—and Toyota’s legendary 70-Series Land Cruiser is the ideal platform.
Rugged, tested and decades, and utterly reliable, it’s a workhorse that has proven its all-terrain capabilities in the hands of humanitarian, NGO, and military duties. This vaccine hauler is based on a 78-Series cruiser, a hardtop wagon body style with plenty of room in the back to fit the B Medical Systems CF850 vaccine refrigerator.
Toyota’s Customizing & Development Co. subsidiary carries out the conversion, and ensure that the refrigeration unit can run for 16 hours on its internal battery power alone. The battery can also charge from the vehicle while it is running, or plug into an external power source for a top-up.
The Land Cruiser meets the standards set by the World Health Organization, so it’s eligible for procurement by that agency or any other NGO that requires such a standard. Hopefully this Land Cruiser (and other vehicles like it) can get vaccines delivered to those in need, no matter where they’re located.