Best of What’s New for 2014? The Toyota Fuel Cell Vehicle

Toronto, ON, Nov 12, 2014 - Even the techies at Popular Science like the Toyota Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV). The magazine named the sedan to a 2014 Best of What’s New winner in the auto category.
 
“For 27 years, Popular Science has honored the innovations that surprise and amaze us − those that make a positive impact on our world today and challenge our view of what’s possible in the future,” said Cliff Ransom, Editor-in-Chief of Popular Science. “The Best of What’s New Award is the magazine’s top honor, and the 100 winners − chosen from among thousands of entrants − each a revolution in its field.”
 
The Toyota FCV: Technology at a Glance
 
What is it? The FCV is an all-electric, four-door sedan that makes its own electricity on board.  It utilizes the same hybrid technology developed for Toyota’s hybrid synergy drive systems but replaces the gasoline engine with a fuel cell stack.
 
How does it work? The FCV features hydrogen fuel tanks (the hydrogen is a compressed gas, similar to a natural gas vehicle), an electric motor, a fuel cell stack, a small battery and a power control unit.  The hydrogen gas is fed into the fuel cell stack where it is combined with oxygen. The hydrogen and oxygen move through the fuel cell stack and create a chemical reaction, producing electricity to power the vehicle. 
 
What’s the benefit? It takes less than five minutes to refuel. It has a range of 300 miles. And the only emission from the tailpipe is water vapor. 
 
What’s next? The Toyota FCV hits the streets of California in late 2015.  Hydrogen refueling stations are popping up across the state and Toyota continues to partner with industry and government to support the continued growth of infrastructure in California and beyond. 
 

About Toyota Canada Inc.

Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) is the exclusive Canadian distributor of Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles.  Celebrating its 50^th anniversary in Canada, Toyota has sold over 4.6 million vehicles in Canada through a national network of 285 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealerships.  Toyota is dedicated to bringing safety, quality, dependability and reliability in the vehicles Canadians drive and the service they receive.  TCI’s head office is located in Toronto, with regional offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and Halifax and parts distribution centres in Toronto and Vancouver.  Toyota operates two manufacturing facilities in Canada which build popular Canadian vehicles: Toyota RAV4, Toyota Corolla, Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h hybrid and just celebrated production of its 6 millionth vehicle.