Toyota eyes hydrogen stations in California
by Alan Ohnsman,
2014-01-08 05:35:31.0
LOS ANGELES — Toyota Motor, which is preparing to sell Camry-sized sedans powered by fuel cells next year in the US, says it will help establish a hydrogen station network to aid the plug-free electric vehicles’ success.
The concept version of Toyota’s fuel-cell sedan due next year was displayed on Tuesday in Las Vegas at the International Consumer Electronics Show, along with a prototype that has been subjected to road and hot and cold weather testing.
California, the main initial market, would have up to 20 hydrogen fuel stations next year when sales of the unnamed vehicle begin, Toyota said.
Using hydrogen to power vehicles "has been seen by many smart people as a foolish quest," and faces "significant challenges", Toyota’s US senior vice-president Bob Carter said on Tuesday before the car was shown. "First is building the vehicle at a reasonable price for many people. The second is doing what we can to help kick-start the construction of convenient hydrogen refuelling infrastructure."
Toyota, Hyundai Motor and Honda Motor have announced plans to sell hydrogen cars and crossovers to drivers in California, where state regulators have set strict rules requiring ever greater numbers of zero-emission vehicles each year until the end of 2025.
Fuel-cell cars are similar to battery-only models such as Nissan’s Leaf hatchback and Tesla Motors’ Model S sedan in avoiding exhaust pollution from burning petrol.
Battery models carry electricity in their lithium-ion battery packs while fuel-cell vehicles make electricity on board in a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, with only water vapour as a byproduct.
While hydrogen vehicles have a range comparable to petrol vehicles and need only a few minutes to refuel — compared with hours for most battery vehicles — there are few hydrogen pumps open to the public.
California has committed to spending as much as $200m to create a network of as many as 100 hydrogen stations by 2024. Toyota is working with the University of California and state officials to identify the best sites for fuel pumps, of which the state has only about 10.
Some of the car maker’s California dealers may install hydrogen pumps, Mr Carter said. "We’re looking at everything right now," he said on Tuesday. "We know that we have to push the infrastructure."
Bloomberg
Picture: REUTERS
LOS ANGELES — Toyota Motor, which is preparing to sell Camry-sized sedans powered by fuel cells next year in the US, says it will help establish a hydrogen station network to aid the plug-free electric vehicles’ success.
The concept version of Toyota’s fuel-cell sedan due next year was displayed on Tuesday in Las Vegas at the International Consumer Electronics Show, along with a prototype that has been subjected to road and hot and cold weather testing.
California, the main initial market, would have up to 20 hydrogen fuel stations next year when sales of the unnamed vehicle begin, Toyota said.
Using hydrogen to power vehicles "has been seen by many smart people as a foolish quest," and faces "significant challenges", Toyota’s US senior vice-president Bob Carter said on Tuesday before the car was shown. "First is building the vehicle at a reasonable price for many people. The second is doing what we can to help kick-start the construction of convenient hydrogen refuelling infrastructure."
Toyota, Hyundai Motor and Honda Motor have announced plans to sell hydrogen cars and crossovers to drivers in California, where state regulators have set strict rules requiring ever greater numbers of zero-emission vehicles each year until the end of 2025.
Fuel-cell cars are similar to battery-only models such as Nissan’s Leaf hatchback and Tesla Motors’ Model S sedan in avoiding exhaust pollution from burning petrol.
Battery models carry electricity in their lithium-ion battery packs while fuel-cell vehicles make electricity on board in a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, with only water vapour as a byproduct.
While hydrogen vehicles have a range comparable to petrol vehicles and need only a few minutes to refuel — compared with hours for most battery vehicles — there are few hydrogen pumps open to the public.
California has committed to spending as much as $200m to create a network of as many as 100 hydrogen stations by 2024. Toyota is working with the University of California and state officials to identify the best sites for fuel pumps, of which the state has only about 10.
Some of the car maker’s California dealers may install hydrogen pumps, Mr Carter said. "We’re looking at everything right now," he said on Tuesday. "We know that we have to push the infrastructure."
Bloomberg
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