That the Toyota corporation is big on hybrids and fuel cell technology is nothing new, but that their Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle (or simply known as FCHV) can finish a 560km journey from Osaka to Tokyo without refuelling is something note worthy. Back in July, Toyota saw its FCHV become the first fuel cell powered vehicle in Japan to acquire vehicle type certification under the Road Vehicles Act, allowing Toyota to commercialize and market fuel cell vehicles without having to certify individual cars.
Since July Toyota has doubled the capacity of its high-pressure hydrogen storage tanks to 70 MPa and therefor doubled its theoretical range to 660 km. The current FCHV is also 25% more fuel efficient than previous versions increasing its range even more to approximately 750 km. The 560 km journey, which started in front of the Osaka Prefectural Government Office and finished at the Mega Web car theme park in Tokyo, was completed with the air-conditioning on during normal traffic conditions.
Source: Toyota Motor Corporation
Press Release(Click to expand)
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 travelling from Osaka to Tokyo on a single fuelling of hydrogen.
The road test - part of the Toyota FCHV's public-road test program - started in front of the Osaka Prefectural Government Office in central Osaka City. The vehicle travelled via the Meishin Expressway, Tomei Expressway and Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway to Tokyo. The trip concluded at the Mega Web automobile-themed amusement facility in Tokyo's waterfront area, covering approximately 560 kilometres. The entire trip was completed with the air-conditioner on and with no need to stop for refuelling.
The Toyota FCHV used in the trip is 25 per cent more fuel efficient than earlier versions. This is due to improvements in the TMC-developed, high-performance Toyota FC Stack fuel cell 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 Toyota FCHV's previous 35Mpa high-pressure hydrogen tanks. These improvements make it possible to achieve a single-fuelling 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.
Vehicle Specifications (for FCHV used in Osaka-Tokyo journey)
