700km Range on a Single Fill

Toyota, which sparked the hybrid revolution with the commercial release of the Prius in 1997, is now set to introduce a vehicle powered by a new energy source. The fuel cell vehicle (FCV), announced at last November's Tokyo Motor Show as slated for sale in the near future, is now expected to go on sale in Japan by the end of this year.

Fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) derive their motive power from a simple mechanism: a chemical reaction between hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O) that generates water (H2O) and electricity. Hydrogen, the fuel, is abundant, and oxygen is supplied from the air. The only emission is water, making it an attractive clean energy source. However, significant technical challenges remain in areas such as safe hydrogen storage and efficient, stable energy generation, which manufacturers are diligently researching.

As a result of these efforts, numerous hydrogen-powered vehicles, including concept cars and experimental models, have been presented. Honda, for instance, currently offers the FCX Clarity for lease to corporations and public institutions.

Toyota has spent over 20 years researching fuel cell stacks that generate electricity through chemical reactions and high-pressure hydrogen storage tanks, finally bringing a commercially available fuel cell vehicle to market in 2014.



The model to be released isTokyo Motor Showan evolution of the "FCV Concept" that made its world premiere at the. While its release was initially announced for 2015, it will now be available in stores in Japan by the end of this year, ahead of schedule.

While detailed specifications and performance figures have yet to be announced, the price is expected to be around 7 million yen. The cruising range is approximately 700km, and refueling with hydrogen takes about three minutes, comparable to gasoline, depending on the facility.

Sales in Japan will initially commence in regions where hydrogen refueling stations are planned: Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama, Yamanashi, Aichi, Osaka, Hyogo, Yamaguchi, and Fukuoka prefectures. The rollout will expand nationwide as stations become available. Furthermore, sales are planned for Europe and North America in the summer of 2015.

In addition to conventional gasoline and diesel, we now have hybrids, plug-in hybrids, electric vehicles, and the newly introduced FCV. The expanding range of choices in terms of power sources offers significant benefits to consumers.

Going forward, this technology is slated for application across the Toyota Group in commercial vehicles such as buses, trucks, and forklifts, as well as in home power generation systems.