Toyota FCHV-adv: improved hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle

Toyota came out with great news today about an advanced fuel-cell vehicle with a maximum cruising range of 830 km (516 miles) on a full tank of hydrogen. Fuel cell vehicles are running on hydrogen which is both cheap and inexhaustible, emits only water and offer the same driving experience which may lead us to considering them against traditional cars,

The improved FCHV-adv version is a hybrid that also uses an electric engine to switch to, features a bigger fuel tank, has a double maximum storage pressure, a better braking system, a nickel-metal hydride battery and is 25 more fuel efficient than its predecessor.

It should go head to head with Honda’s latest FCX Clarity, a sporty-looking fuel-cell sedan with a maximum cruising range of 620 km (385 miles) on a single tank and in temperatures as low as -30 degrees Celsius (-22F) up to 95 degrees Celsius (203F).

Though overseas plans are not yet defined and prices not yet announced, the zero emissions FCHV-adv model will be leased in the United States starting next month and later this year it should be available to government agencies in Japan. It should be showcased next month at the G8 Summit in Toyako as a test-ride, if you plan to take a closer look.

Toyota FCHV-adv: improved hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle

Hollywood Pushes for Fuel Cell Cars

fuel cell cars

Perhaps the only time you’ve heard about fuel cell vehicles is when Hollywood stars roll up to the red carpet. A star with a green streak is more than happy to lend his or her name to the cause of emission-free motoring, and car companies will do what’s necessary to promote their forward-thinking advanced technologies.

 

 

Separating Hydrogen Truth and Fiction

But there’s evidence that hydrogen fuel cell cars—largely dismissed as fantasy in recent years—might one day become more than just the stuff of science fiction movies. Ironically, Tinsel Town and Greater Los Angeles—a town where fiction and gritty realities collide—is becoming the location for real fuel cell cars, although still on a limited basis. Los Angeles enjoys the support of state and local government agencies and a budding infrastructure for refueling—including 20 hydrogen stations and another seven in the planning stages. The lack of a refueling network is perhaps the biggest obstacle to the deployment of hydrogen-powered cars.
And then there was the large showing of fuel cell cars at the recent Los Angeles Auto Show—demonstrating that fuel cell technology remains an important area of research and development focus for automakers, along with the hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and full electric vehicles that are likely to appear on the market sooner.
Hydrogen-powered fuel cell cars are essentially electric vehicles—producing their electricity onboard instead of having it supplied from the grid. Compressed hydrogen passes through a fuel cell membrane that produces electricity to power the car.

Fuel Cell Highlights from the Los Angeles Show

Fuel cell vehicles certainly face challenges before becoming a mainstream product, but many in the industry and government still see them as the “holy grail,” capable of delivering all of the convenience and performance of an internal combustion engine without the pollution and greenhouse gases, or dependence on fossil fuel.

 

Fuel-Cell Vehicles

A fuel cell produces electricity directly from the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen. The only byproduct is water. A fuel-cell vehicle utilizes the electricity produced by the fuel cell to power motors at the vehicle's wheels. Fuel-cell vehicles are similar to battery-electric vehicles in that they are powered by electricity, but they do not have to be recharged like battery vehicles. Fuel-cell vehicles have onboard storage tanks that could be filled at hydrogen filling stations, similar to gasoline vehicle refueling.

What Are the Pros and Cons?Air pollution. Vehicles that run on pure hydrogen are true zero-emission vehicles. Some vehicle manufactures, however, are developing fuel-cell vehicles that can run on hydrocarbons, such as methanol (a liquid fuel derived most commonly from natural gas) or gasoline. Using hydrocarbons to operate fuel-cell vehicles would result in tailpipe air pollutant emissions, reducing fuel cells' overall environmental benefits.

Global-warming pollution. Run on pure hydrogen, fuel cells consume no fossil fuels and emit no heat-trapping gases (which contribute to global warming). However, it is extremely important to factor in any global warming emissions associated with the production of hydrogen. Pure hydrogen gas does not occur in nature in concentrated amounts, meaning that hydrogen must be produced. A number of various technologies exist to extract hydrogen from sources such as water, natural gas, coal, and biomass, among others. The different hydrogen sources and production methods determine the amount of heat-trapping gases and other environmental issues associated with hydrogen production. Advances in hydrogen production are needed to minimize and eliminate global warming emissions. Research needs to continue on producing hydrogen from renewable resources, including wind and solar power and more advanced technologies.

Cost. Today's fuel-cell vehicles are mostly produced as prototypes or in very small quantities. As mass production often correllates to cost competitiveness, current costs are quite high. But the interest of automakers worldwide in developing these vehicles signals their belief that fuel cells will be competitive with conventional-technology vehicles. Increasing experience with advanced hybrid-electric vehicle technology and production will help lower the cost of future fuel-cell vehicles. Hybrid-electric vehicles use electric motors and advanced battery technology, both of which will be beneficial in fuel-cell vehicle development.

Performance and range. As with other electric-drive vehicles, fuel-cell cars are quiet, smooth, and fun to drive. A remaining challenge for fuel-cell vehicle developers is storing hydrogen onboard the vehicle. Because hydrogen is a gas, as opposed to a liquid fuel, a larger volume of it is needed to travel the same distance as with a tank of gasoline. A number of hydrogen storage technologies are being pursued to provide fuel-cell vehicles with a driving range equivalent to today's cars. 

Market Availability. Fuel cells have moved remarkably quickly from laboratory to road. Fuel-cell transit bus demonstration projects were completed in both Chicago and Vancouver, and similar demonstrations are occurring in various cities boty nationwide and around the globe. In California, automakers, fuel companies, and government agencies are working in partnership to test fuel-cell vehicle technology and are expected to produce more than 60 demonstration vehicles over the next few years.  Also, the California ZEV (Zero Emission Vehicle) Program will require auto manufacturers to sell increasing numbers of zero- emission vehicles over the next decade, further encouraging the development of fuel-cell vehicles. Still, a number of durability, performance, and cost issues must be overcome before fuel-cell vehicles are ready for mass production. Most of the major automakers have stated their intention to begin selling fuel-cell passenger vehicles by the end of the decade.