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Toyota says fuel cells could cost no more than diesels soon

Toyota wants to bring the cost of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles down to something along the lines of a diesel vehicle's price tag. It just might take until the alliterative year of 2022 to hit that target. Such is the challenge of modern engineering. Fuel-cell vehicle costs may eventually approach diesel vehicle costs because of the relatively expensive process of both making a diesel engine and including it with particulate filters and other treatments required to reduce the soot once associated with such engines, Automotive News says, citing comments from Toyota executive Katsuhiko Hirose. And, while engineers initially estimated that fuel cells and diesels would reach price parity in about 15 years, Hirose said Toyota higher ups weren't satisfied with that answer and think the timeframe could be cut in half. The Japanese automaker in January said it would ramp up the manufacturing rate of its first production fuel-cell vehicle, the Mirai, to about 700 units this year and to 2,000 vehicles for 2016. Later this year, Toyota will start selling the Mirai in the US for either $57,500 as a purchase or $499-a-month lease, and both options come with free hydrogen. Who can say that about diesel fuel? Related Videos:

BMW i5 returns as next rumored i Project vehicle

Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle enthusiasts may want to give each other some high-fives when they hear the latest news about BMW's reputed i5. The German automaker has been rumored to be on the verge of expanding its i brand beyond its i3 battery-electric and i8 plug-in hybrid cars for a long while. The latest rumors say that BMW could be working on a hydrogen-powered i5 crossover. BMW is in the "final stages of consideration" of expanding the sub-brand, Bloomberg News says, citing comments BMW executive Ian Robertson made this week at the Frankfurt Motor Show. There may be more light-weighting efforts, and an alternative powertrain is sure to be in order, but there are few details beyond that. BMW of North America spokeswoman Rebecca Kiehne declined to comment to AutoblogGreen. Since 2013, BMW has worked with Toyota on hydrogen fuel-cell drivetrains and might further expand that relationship, MarketWatch says, citing BMW financial chief Friedrich Eichiner. The two automakers have already worked together on a prototype BMW 5 Series sedan with a hydrogen-powered engine. That car was unveiled this summer. Earlier this year, we heard reports about an i5 that would actually be a hybrid-electric vehicle of sorts, and an extremely powerful one. That rumored vehicle – again some sort of modified 5 Series – would actually contain one gas-powered engine and two electric motors, all combining for more than 540 horsepower. If these latest rumors turn out to be true, they would mark a change in things, but we won't be surprise if we hear yet another version of what the i5 will be before it's all said and done.

Recharge Wrap-up: 'Racing Extinction' Tesla, Wards praises 3 hybrids

The makers of Racing Extinction used a tricked out Tesla Model S for their movie. The artists and activists used the electric car as a platform to project images from nature in various cities to raise awareness about imperiled wildlife. In addition to a the high-powered projector, the Model S features a electroluminescent paint job that emits light to mimic creatures found in the wild, such as bioluminescent sea life. It also has a thermal imaging camera in the front of the car with a filter to view CO2 emissions. Check it out in the video above, and read more at Ecomento. WardsAuto has named the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid's powertrain to its list of 10 Best Engines. As the first plug-in hybrid to make the list, WardsAuto World Editor-in-Chief Drew Winter praises Hyundai engineers for their "impeccable job blending fuel efficiency with refinement and daily usability." Wards notes the car's smooth transitions between electric and hybrid modes, and a well-connected six-speed automatic transmission. Other electrified vehicles to make the list are the 2016 Chevrolet Volt and 2016 Toyota Prius. Read more from Hyundai, at Green Car Reports. FEV's plug-in hybrid battery pack has gone into vehicle series production. The 10-kWh battery pack, developed by the German development services provider, offers an all-electric range of about 30 miles. FEV says its battery management algorithms are just as important as choosing the right battery hardware. "The core system for the battery development is our own mature battery management system (BMS), now in its third generation, that together with optimized algorithms allows a very reliable and stable control of the battery," says FEV's Dr. Michael Stapelbroek. Read more at Green Car Congress, or in the press release from FEV below. Hybrid Vehicle Goes Into Series Production FEV development competence consists of batteries, controls, as well as complete drive systems FEV has demonstrated competence in the development of alternative drive concepts for almost twenty years. Most recently, yet another plug-in hybrid vehicle has gone into series production with technology provided by the Aachen-based developer. In addition to using an innovative transmission concept which is based on a FEV patent, FEV also developed the battery technology of the plug-in hybrid vehicle to series production readiness.