Toyota to launch hydrogen fuel cell sedan in 2015

MANILA, Philippines - Toyota Motor Corp. is launching its hydrogen fuel cell sedan, first unveiled as a concept at the Tokyo Motor Show last year.

In a statement, Toyota said the car would be launched in Japan before April 2015, and preparations are underway for launches in the US and European markets in the summer of 2015.

The launch of the vehicle reflects the company’s commitment to environment-friendly vehicles, Toyota said.

This is based on three basic principles: embracing diverse energy sources; developing efficient, low-emission vehicles; and driving real and positive environmental change by popularizing these vehicles.

Hydrogen is an alternative fuel which can be produced using a wide variety of primary energy sources such as solar and wind.

“When compressed, it has a higher energy density than batteries and is easier to store and transport. In addition to its potential as a fuel for home and automotive use, hydrogen could be used in a wide range of applications, including large-scale power generation,” the company said.

Toyota has been developing fuel cell vehicles in-house for more than 20 years but it has been implementing significant improvements in its system.

Toyota said the fuel cell sedan features performance similar to a gasoline engine vehicle, with a cruising range of approximately 700 kilometers and a refueling time of roughly three minutes.

“When driven, it emits only the water vapor produced by the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen,” it also said.

Fuel cell vehicles contribute to the diversification of automobile fuels, emit no carbon emission or environmentally harmful substances during operation, and offer the convenience of gasoline-powered cars.

Aside from this, the Toyota Group is also engaging in other hydrogen-related initiatives, such as developing and testing fuel cells for use in homes, and developing fuel cell forklifts and fuel cell buses.