Wasserstoffautos

(Source: TMC) Tokyo, Sept. 28, 2007 - Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announced that an improved version of its Toyota FCHV fuel cell hybrid vehicle successfully completed a long-distance road test by traveling from Osaka to Tokyo on a single fueling of hydrogen.

The road test started in front of the Osaka Prefectural Government Office in central Osaka City and concluded at the Mega Web automobile-themed amusement facility in Tokyo's waterfront area, covering approximately 560 kilometers. The entire trip was completed with the air conditioner on and with no need to stop for refueling.


The FCHV used in the trip is 25% more fuel efficient than earlier versions, due to improvements in the TMC-developed, high-performance FC Stack and to improvements in the control system for managing fuel cell output and battery charging/discharging. It also features TMC-developed 70Mpa high-pressure hydrogen tanks capable of storing approximately twice the amount of hydrogen as the FCHV's previous 35Mpa high-pressure hydrogen tanks. These improvements make it possible to achieve a single-fueling cruising distance of approximately 750km (in the 10-15 Japanese test cycle, as calculated by TMC).

In addition to issues related to cost and hydrogen storage methods, as well as other technical matters, the supply infrastructure and other issues of broad societal importance also need to be considered. TMC is actively working toward making fuel cell vehicles widespread by cooperating with the Japanese government, energy companies and other concerned entities. Against this backdrop, TMC is making steady progress in research and development related to, among others, cruising distance, low-temperature starts, durability and reduced costs.




As part of the 40th Tokyo Motor Show, which runs from October 26 to November 11, the Toyota FCHV will be available
for test-drives in a show-sponsored event called "Clean Energy Vehicles Test Ride".


Images: TMC


{mosmodule module=ebay_elektroauto}


{mosmodule module=Google AdLink}