Toyota FCV Concept comes one step closer to reality

Wed, 20 Nov 2013

When Toyota first conceptualized a gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle for mainstream Americans to drive, the initial response was pretty skeptical. Still, through relentless engineering and solid product after solid product, Toyota has built the Prius brand into the dominant force in the hybrid car market.

Something like that plan of attack is what the Japanese company is preparing for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, as well, and that attack is seeing a critical salvo fired today with the debut of this FCV Concept at the Tokyo Motor Show.

Though there's nothing substantive to be said about rumors of a 300-mile range or a sticker price around $50,000, the FCV concept does offer a few technical details. The sharp-beaked concept makes use of two high-pressure hydrogen tanks and boasts a power output density of three kilowatts per liter.

Right now, the expectation is that Toyota will have a real-world version of this technology sometime in 2015.

Toyota to Display New Concept Vehicles at Tokyo Motor Show

Tokyo, Japan, November 5, 2013-Toyota Motor Corporation will display seven concept cars in its Toyota-brand exhibit at the 43rd Tokyo Motor Show. The show, to be held at Tokyo Big Sight in Koto Ward, Tokyo, will run from November 20 to December 11.

Under the slogan "Fun to Drive, Again,"2 the concept vehicles are aimed to convey Toyota's vision of a future mobility society that values the joy of driving. The Toyota-brand vehicles on display will underline Toyota's efforts to contribute to society while creating ever-better cars that exceed expectations.

The Toyota-brand display will include a concept version of the fuel cell vehicle scheduled for launch around 2015, as well as next-generation taxi designed with usability in mind and a concept car that connects with its driver in an easy-to-use, intuitive manner.

Overview of Toyota-brand Display Vehicles to Debut at the Tokyo Motor Show
The booth will also feature the "i-Road," a personal mobility vehicle which made its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March this year, and the "FT-86 Open Concept," a rear-wheel-drive sports convertible.

1 Press days: November 20 – November 21; special guest day: November 22; preview night (invitation only): November 22; public days: November 23 – December 1
2 A play on the Toyota-brand catchphrase "Fun to Drive", which was used in domestic Japanese advertisements from 1984 through 1987; the slogan was also used at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show

1. Toyota FCV Concept (world premiere)

The Toyota FCV Concept is a practical concept of the fuel cell vehicle Toyota plans to launch around 2015 as a pioneer in the development of hydrogen-powered vehicles. The concept boasts a driving range of at least 500 km and refueling times as low as three minutes, roughly the same time as a gasoline vehicle.

The vehicle's exterior design takes cues from a catamaran and evokes flowing water. The front view features air intakes on each side that symbolize the "taking in air, emitting water" function of the cutting-edge technology. The side view conveys this air-to-water transformation with its flowing-liquid door profile and wave-motif fuel cap, while the rear view conveys a catamaran's stern.

With Toyota's proprietary small, light-weight FC Stack and two 70 MPa high-pressure hydrogen tanks placed beneath the specially designed body, the Toyota FCV Concept can accommodate up to four passengers.

The Toyota FC Stack boasts power output density of 3 kW/l, more than twice that of the current "Toyota FCHV-adv" FC Stack. In addition, the FC system is equipped with Toyota's high-efficiency boost converter. Increasing the voltage made it possible to reduce the size of the motor and the number of FC cells, leading to a smaller FC system with enhanced performance at reduced cost.

By Seyth Miersma