Toyota FCHV
The Toyota FCHV is a hybrid hydrogen fuel cell vehicle development programme of the Toyota Motor Corporation, which was leased to a limited number of drivers in the United States and Japan beginning in 2002. The Toyota FCHV and Honda FCX, which began leasing on 2 December 2002, became the world's first government-certified commercial hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Its first commercial fuel cell vehicle was developed from the FCHV-4, which was adapted from the Toyota Highlander body. "FCHV" stands for "Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle". A number of prototypes have been produced, up to the latest Toyota [Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle-Advanced|FCHV-adv].
History
There are six generations of FCHVs for testing. The FCHV-1, introduced in 1996, was Toyota's first fuel cell vehicle, based on the Toyota RAV4 and equipped with a hydrogen-absorbing alloy storage unit. The FCHV-2, introduced in 1997, was equipped with a reformer to extract hydrogen from methanol. FCHV-3, 4, and 5, introduced in 2001, were based on the Toyota Highlander, and FCHV-3 and 4 were capable of generating four times more power than FCHV-1. The FCHV-4 was the first fuel cell vehicle to be tested on public roads in Japan, and driving tests continued until 2004. The Clean Hydrocarbon Fuel reformer of the FCHV-5 was equipped with a newly developed catalyst and heat exchanger to improve acceleration and fuel economy.As of 2008 the FCHV-adv was available for lease in Japan. The use of the vehicles by government ministries and companies is intended to provide detailed development feedback on the FCHV performance under varied driving conditions.
In 2007 a FCHV was driven between Osaka and Tokyo on a single tank of hydrogen, proving that a hydrogen vehicle could compete with conventional vehicles for range. In August 2009, Toyota USA announced an estimated FCHV-adv range of from a tank of hydrogen, based on a test trip in "real-world" conditions between Torrance and San Diego, California.
FCHV system
The FCHV designs are based on the first generation Highlander SUV, although a bus version is also in development. The powertrain consists of a 90 kW fuel cell supplied from onboard compressed hydrogen tanks, and a nickel–metal hydride battery in parallel. Battery and fuel cell can provide power to the 90 kW driving motors either singly or together. The mechanism is very similar to the Hybrid Synergy Drive in the Toyota Prius and Toyota Auris HSD but with the fuel cell replacing the petrol internal combustion engine, thus minimising greenhouse gas emissions at point of use.At low speeds the FCHV can run on battery alone, with a range of about. For high performance, such as when accelerating from rest, the fuel cell and battery supply power in tandem. The battery can also charge by regenerative braking, improving overall efficiency.
Hydrogen storage
The 700 Bar hydrogen tanks holds 156 liters - enough fuel for a range of on the Japanese 10-15 test cycle and on the Japanese JC08 test cycle. Test vehicles on the Japanese 10-15 test cycle average with a top speed of. Vehicles on the JC08 test cycle average and a top speed of.Models
FCHV-BUS
The Toyota FCHV-BUS is a fuel cell bus based on the Hino Blue Ribbon City low-floor bus.- 90 kW PEFC Fuel cell stack: twice
- Motor: AC synchronous 80 kW twice
- Hydrogen tank: Compressed hydrogen gas 35 MPa / 150 liter, five or seven
- Passenger capacity: 63
- Chita Noriai as route bus in Chubu International Airport
- Chubu International Airport as ramp bus
- Meitetsu Bus as route bus in Toyota City, Aichi
- Airport Transport Service as airport shuttle bus for Tokyo International Airport
FC Bus
The FC Bus uses the Toyota Fuel Cell System in a bus, based on experience with Hino on the Hino Blue Ribbon bus.In 2015, the bus was lent to Meitetsu Bus for free, as a demonstration that fuel cell buses were practical. It was used on the Toyota City Community Bus Oiden Bus Toyota East Circle Line. In September on 2015, the bus started running Toyota Oiden Bus Fujioka・Toyota Line.
Toyota planned to start sales in 2017 and to have 100 units in Tokyo in time for the 2020 Olympics. The bus was delivered to Toei Bus on lease contract.
SORA
The Toyota SORA bus will be made from 2018. The name "SORA" stands for Sky, Ocean, River, Air, which is the water cycle. It includes a Toyota Fuel Cell System and a collision warning system. It has a capacity of up to 79 people. The seats can also stow automatically when not in use. It also uses LED lights to communicate with other buses and travel in convoys to conserve energy. They can also be used as an emergency power source, having up to.Project Portal trucks
Toyota started testing two Mirai fuel cells in a converted Kenworth T680 electric Class 8 semi-trailer truck in the Port of Los Angeles in April 2017 as part of 'Project Portal', doing drayage for Toyota. The truck has two motors for a combined and of torque, a 200 kW 12 kWh battery, and a fixed gear ratio of 15.5:1. It has a range of determined by the size of the hydrogen tanks. It accelerates from in 7 seconds. The motors are mainly powered by the fuel cells rather than from the small battery.Toyota added a terminal tractor to the project in 2019. The project was updated with a truck in 2020.