The good news keeps rolling for Toyota Motor Company regarding its Toyota FCHV-adv sports utility vehicle. This vehicle was given vehicle-type certification by the Japanese government last week. Organizers from the Environmental Showcase at July’s Hokkaido Toyako Summit have allowed Toyota to highlight the FCHV-adv as a prototype for attendees. There are many reasons why Toyota’s newest hybrid vehicle is getting the attention of auto tastemakers.
The FCHV-adv contains hydrogen tanks that are able to hold up to 10,000-psi pressure that fuel the vehicle. Toyota’s initial testing found that the FCHV-adv can run up to 516 miles on a single filling of hydrogen. Subsequent tests have placed the vehicle’s range between 348 and 472 miles in real driving conditions.
Motorists and industry insiders are interested in the FCHV-adv beyond its extended fuel mileage. Toyota claims that this second-generation SUV is 25% more fuel efficient than the original FCHV. The motor company took its Highland SUV frame and began to tweak parts and remove unnecessary items for a lighter weight vehicle. Toyota amplified the regenerative qualities of the FCHV’s brakes and made air conditioning, stereo and lighting systems that run on less electricity.
Another reason for the vehicle’s rising stock is initial testing in inclement weather and cold temperatures. Toyota tested the FCHV-adv in Timmins, Ontario, Canada to ensure that the Toyota FC Stack could withstand freezing temperatures. The company claims that the FCHV-adv can start cold at -30 degrees Celsius though additional testing is needed to verify these claims.
The potential marketability of the FCHV-adv in the United States is nearly limitless. The general public is looking for alternative fuels like hydrogen and ethanol that won’t bust household budgets. Toyota has surpassed Ford and other motor companies in terms of brand loyalty and public esteem. The combination of consumer angst and positive corporate images bodes well for the FCHV-adv.
There are several problems with the hydrogen-fuel market and the FCHV-adv that need to be addressed soon. The rhetoric about hydrogen by the federal government has not been realized in terms of pumping stations and infrastructure. The costs of developing the Toyota FC Stack and other parts in the FCHV-adv are beyond most consumers at this point. Toyota needs to be careful about pumping up this vehicle too much in order to quell expectations that the FCHV-adv could be the next Prius.
