Toyota to produce fuel-cell-powered vehicles by 2015

From left: The Toyota FT-EVII electric car, which will go into production by 2012, and the FCHV-adv, a hydrogen fuel-cell-powered prototype vehicle...

Toyota has made it clear during this year’s Geneva Motor Show, that the company is fully committed to the development of hybrids, electric cars and even hydrogen fuel-cell-powered vehicles. ‘We firmly believe that fuel cell hybrid vehicles will play a major role in reducing emissions and achieving sustainable mobility, alongside petrol and plug-in hybrids and pure electric vehicles. These various applications of full hybrid technology will each play their role and co-exist in the future,’ said Tadashi Arashima, President and CEO, Toyota Motor Europe.

‘Toyota aims at the commercialization of fuel cell vehicles by around 2015. To achieve this goal, a hydrogen charging infrastructure is necessary, so close tie-ups between car manufacturers and infrastructure companies are of vital importance,’ added Arashima.

Toyota, which showcased its latest electric and hybrid concept cars, also presented the FT-EVII at the Geneva Show. A production-spec version of this electric car is expected to be ready by 2012, when it will first go on sale in the US. The company also had the FCHV-adv on display, which is powered by a hydrogen fuel-cell-powered and which has a range of more than 800km.