Toyota Reaffirms Fuel Cell Vehicles Coming in 2015
Toyota chairman, Takeshi Uchiyamada, has reaffirmed that the Japanese automaker will bring a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle to the U.S. by 2015.
Toyota’s first fuel cell electric vehicle will largely be based on the FCV-R concept that was unveiled at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. The production vehicle will be available in the U.S. in 2015 with a starting price of around $50,000. Toyota is moving forward with the vehicle and sticking to the promised release date “in order not to waste the investments that the infrastructure companies will make,” Uchiyamada said.
SEE ALSO: Toyota Fuel Cell Vehicle to Cost Between $50—100K
Currently there are 10 public hydrogen fueling stations in the U.S., but fuel companies plan to build dozens more pumps within the next couple of years. Uchiyamada believes that fuel cell electric vehicles will make more sense in the long run than battery electric vehicles thanks to quick refueling times and longer range between refueling. Other automakers aren’t as optimistic about the technology, with Tesla CEO going so far as to saying that fuel cell should be renamed “fool cells.”
GALLERY: Toyota FCV-R Concept
[Source: Automotive News]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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