Toyota develops new Fuel Cell Hybrid
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Lead Lap
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Toyota develops new Fuel Cell Hybrid
Toyota develops new fuel cell hybrid
Toyota has developed a new fuel cell hybrid, a green car powered by hydrogen and electricity, that can travel more than twice the distance of its predecessor model without filling up, the automaker said Friday.
The improved model's maximum cruising range is 830 kilometers (516 miles) compared with 330 kilometers (205 miles) for Toyota's previous fuel cell model, the maker of the Camry sedan and Lexus luxury cars said in a statement.
The FCHV-adv model, which received Japanese government approval Tuesday, will be available for leasing in Japan later this year, Toyota Motor Corp. spokeswoman Kayo Doi said. Pricing and other details weren't available, and overseas plans were still undecided, she said.
Fuel cell vehicles produce no pollution by running on the power of the chemical reaction when hydrogen stored in a tank combines with oxygen in the air to produce water.
The FCHV-adv from the world's second biggest automaker also comes with an electric motor and works as a hybrid by switching between that motor and the hydrogen-powered fuel cell. Toyota's Prius hybrid switches between an electric motor and a standard gasoline engine.
Fuel efficiency in the FCHV-adv was improved 25 percent with better braking and other changes, Toyota said. The new fuel cell vehicle can also start and run in temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius (minus 22 Fahrenheit), it said. Getting a fuel cell to work well in cold weather is a technological challenge.
Major automakers around the world are working on fuel cells and other ecological vehicles, including electric cars and plug-in hybrids, which recharge from an electrical outlet. And consumer interest in alternative fuels is increasing amid soaring gas prices and worries about global warming.
Rival Honda Motor Co.'s revamped fuel cell vehicle for leasing in California is rolling off a Japanese factory floor later this month.
For 2010, U.S. automaker General Motors Corp. is planning a Chevrolet Volt plug-in electric vehicle, while Tokyo-based Nissan Motor Co. is planning electric vehicles for the U.S. and Japan.
Fuel cell vehicles are usually marketed through leasing arrangements since the technology is too expensive for most people to buy in an outright purchase.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/...-Fuel-Cell.php
Toyota has developed a new fuel cell hybrid, a green car powered by hydrogen and electricity, that can travel more than twice the distance of its predecessor model without filling up, the automaker said Friday.
The improved model's maximum cruising range is 830 kilometers (516 miles) compared with 330 kilometers (205 miles) for Toyota's previous fuel cell model, the maker of the Camry sedan and Lexus luxury cars said in a statement.
The FCHV-adv model, which received Japanese government approval Tuesday, will be available for leasing in Japan later this year, Toyota Motor Corp. spokeswoman Kayo Doi said. Pricing and other details weren't available, and overseas plans were still undecided, she said.
Fuel cell vehicles produce no pollution by running on the power of the chemical reaction when hydrogen stored in a tank combines with oxygen in the air to produce water.
The FCHV-adv from the world's second biggest automaker also comes with an electric motor and works as a hybrid by switching between that motor and the hydrogen-powered fuel cell. Toyota's Prius hybrid switches between an electric motor and a standard gasoline engine.
Fuel efficiency in the FCHV-adv was improved 25 percent with better braking and other changes, Toyota said. The new fuel cell vehicle can also start and run in temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius (minus 22 Fahrenheit), it said. Getting a fuel cell to work well in cold weather is a technological challenge.
Major automakers around the world are working on fuel cells and other ecological vehicles, including electric cars and plug-in hybrids, which recharge from an electrical outlet. And consumer interest in alternative fuels is increasing amid soaring gas prices and worries about global warming.
Rival Honda Motor Co.'s revamped fuel cell vehicle for leasing in California is rolling off a Japanese factory floor later this month.
For 2010, U.S. automaker General Motors Corp. is planning a Chevrolet Volt plug-in electric vehicle, while Tokyo-based Nissan Motor Co. is planning electric vehicles for the U.S. and Japan.
Fuel cell vehicles are usually marketed through leasing arrangements since the technology is too expensive for most people to buy in an outright purchase.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/...-Fuel-Cell.php
G35x - RWD/AWD goodness
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Michigan
Toyota Rolls Out Advanced Fuel-Cell Hybrid Vehicle, Amps up Battery Production
Toyota's FCHV-adv (pictured) has been designed to operate at temperatures as low as minus-30 degrees C (minus-22 degrees F). Its cruising range is a cool 472-plus miles, also.
Toyota Prius (pictured) continues to sell well, although the limited supply of battery packages means Toyota can't build 'em fast enough to meet demand.
TOKYO/TORRANCE, California — Toyota Motor on Friday disclosed that it has made some strides with its fuel-cell hybrid vehicle, enhancing it to "further improve cruising distance and low-temperature starts." In the meantime, a posting by Toyota spokesman Irv Miller in the corporate Toyota Open Road blog gripes that "We can't build hybrids fast enough."
"As gas prices continue to head toward the stratosphere, that momentum has shifted into overdrive," writes Miller, referring to sales of the Toyota Prius and the Toyota Camry Hybrid. "We can't build hybrids fast enough. The flip side of the coin, however, is that we're building them as fast as we can. The problem is that we're pretty much at maximum performance in terms of our ability to supply the battery packages for these vehicles."
The combination of skyrocketing demand and a shortage of batteries put a serious crimp in Toyota's hybrid sales in May. Prius sales totaled around 15,000 units, down nearly 40 percent from last year, but most dealers are essentially sold out of the hot hybrid.
Miller notes that Toyota is working with Matsu****a Electric Industrial through their joint-venture company Panasonic Energy EV "to significantly expand production of the battery packages our hybrid vehicles require."
"We will amp up our production of the batteries that will allow us to build hybrid vehicles in the numbers that consumers tell us they want," he adds.
In the meantime, Toyota said its advanced fuel-cell hybrid vehicle is overcoming concerns "which had presented obstacles to widespread fuel-cell-vehicle use." One improvement: Toyota's FCHV-adv, which "can start and operate in cold regions at temperatures as low as negative-30 degrees Celsius, meaning the vehicle can be used in a wider variety of conditions and climates," said the automaker.
The FCHV-adv gets what Toyota describes as a newly designed high-performance Toyota FC Stack. The vehicle's maximum cruising range has increased from approximately 205 miles to between 472 and 516 miles. The maximum speed remains the same at 96 mph.
What this means to you: The latest word from Toyota on what it's working on to ease your pain at the pump. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
"As gas prices continue to head toward the stratosphere, that momentum has shifted into overdrive," writes Miller, referring to sales of the Toyota Prius and the Toyota Camry Hybrid. "We can't build hybrids fast enough. The flip side of the coin, however, is that we're building them as fast as we can. The problem is that we're pretty much at maximum performance in terms of our ability to supply the battery packages for these vehicles."
The combination of skyrocketing demand and a shortage of batteries put a serious crimp in Toyota's hybrid sales in May. Prius sales totaled around 15,000 units, down nearly 40 percent from last year, but most dealers are essentially sold out of the hot hybrid.
Miller notes that Toyota is working with Matsu****a Electric Industrial through their joint-venture company Panasonic Energy EV "to significantly expand production of the battery packages our hybrid vehicles require."
"We will amp up our production of the batteries that will allow us to build hybrid vehicles in the numbers that consumers tell us they want," he adds.
In the meantime, Toyota said its advanced fuel-cell hybrid vehicle is overcoming concerns "which had presented obstacles to widespread fuel-cell-vehicle use." One improvement: Toyota's FCHV-adv, which "can start and operate in cold regions at temperatures as low as negative-30 degrees Celsius, meaning the vehicle can be used in a wider variety of conditions and climates," said the automaker.
The FCHV-adv gets what Toyota describes as a newly designed high-performance Toyota FC Stack. The vehicle's maximum cruising range has increased from approximately 205 miles to between 472 and 516 miles. The maximum speed remains the same at 96 mph.
What this means to you: The latest word from Toyota on what it's working on to ease your pain at the pump. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2003
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From: Massachusetts
I can't believe that Toyota's battery source can't keep up with demand. 
It's funny that there is never a parts supply issue for vehicles that customers don't want.
So what happens to Toyota's original plan to incorporate a hybrid version of almost every model they sell by 2010 (they anounced this a couple of years ago). If they can't get enough batteries for just the Prius and Camry then there's no way of introducing new models.
So as GM, Ford, and Chrysler continue to lay off 10's of thousands of people and close factories, Toyota can't seem to keep up with demands.
It's funny that there is never a parts supply issue for vehicles that customers don't want.
So what happens to Toyota's original plan to incorporate a hybrid version of almost every model they sell by 2010 (they anounced this a couple of years ago). If they can't get enough batteries for just the Prius and Camry then there's no way of introducing new models.
So as GM, Ford, and Chrysler continue to lay off 10's of thousands of people and close factories, Toyota can't seem to keep up with demands.
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 733
Likes: 2
From: Atlanta, GA
funny cause i predict 6 years from now there will be Prius's for sale everywhere...the technology is so imature and moving fast by demand no less.
far better options will be available soon with better investment life
if gas were like $8 then perhaps invesment now makes sense
2 cents
far better options will be available soon with better investment life
if gas were like $8 then perhaps invesment now makes sense
2 cents
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