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Peter Lyon20 Dec 2014
NEWS

Lexus plotting hydrogen limousine

Japanese luxury brand to release fuel-cell powered Lexus LS by 2017

Since Toyota launched the world’s first hybrid car – the Prius – in 1997, the brand has developed its hybrid line-up to the extent that virtually every model has a petrol-electric option.

Notwithstanding the fact the Japanese giant remains a long way from fulfilling its promise of offering a hybrid version of every model in its range by 2020, the company is moving into fuel-cells.

Having just released the Mirai, the world’s first production hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV), in Japan -- with US and European sales to follow by next October -- Toyota now plans to phase in fuel-cell powered versions of other model – including the flagship of its Lexus luxury brand, the LS limousine.

Yes, that’s right. Toyota may only be starting its fuel-cell initiative with around 400 Mirai sales planned per year at present, but by 2020 it expects to expand the global FCEV market to 50,000 units annually.

In addition to introducing such vehicles as fuel-cell powered Corollas and Crowns over the next few years, by 2017 Toyota will unveil a fuel-cell powered Lexus LS as well, positioned in the line-up above the current V8 petrol-electric LS 600h hybrid.

Of course the biggest difference between the Mirai and the LS fuel-cell model will be the packaging. The mid-size Mirai was specially designed as a sedan to house a fuel-cell powertrain, while the LS is an existing large sedan that will be converted to accommodate one.

Like the Mirai, the LS FCEV will employ the Toyota Fuel Cell System (TFCS), but it will be reconfigured for retro-fitment within the LS’s conventional layout.

According to one source, the LS’s nose section will be redesigned with larger air intakes to ventilate the hydrogen powered electric system. The car will incorporate a fuel-cell unit under the front seat, a hydrogen tank under the rear seat and another tank under the rear parcel shelf.

Tipping the scales at around 2100kg (at least 200kg less than the existing LS hybrids), the LS FCEV will incorporate a power unit combining a 150kW fuel-cell stack and a powerful 220kW electric motor to deliver a potential emissions-free driving range of 384km.

By way of comparison, the Mirai carries 5kg of compressed gaseous hydrogen in two carbon-fibre reinforced cylinders. Toyota says that's enough for a driving range of about 480km, while refuelling takes up to five minutes – little more than a conventional car.

Toyota has confirmed the Mirai will be followed by other fuel-cell powered models over the next decade, including a large SUV with a fuel consumption target of around 3.6L/100km.

If it emerges as the Japanese giant's next FCEV, the LS FCEV will be positioned above the range-topping LS 600h L (pictured), which costs $US120,000 in North America. The short-wheelbase LS 600h F Sport -- powered by the same 290kW/520Nm hybrid system -- costs $217,230 here.

With a government subsidy of around $20,000 in Japan, that will make the sleek saloon a zero-emissions executive transport solution within three years for little more than $US100,000.

However, there's no chance of its being seen here, where Toyota Australia has no plans to sell or even trial FCEVs due to a lack of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure and a slow take-up of hybrids – the first step towards automotive electrification.

This is despite Hyundai importing the first FCEV to be permanently stationed in Australia, where the Korean car-maker earlier this month proposed a Sydney-Melbourne hydrogen refuelling network.

The Volkswagen Group is another car-maker marching down the FCEV route, revealing the hydrogen fuel-cell powered Audi A7 Sportback h-tron quattro concept.

BMW has also dabbled in hydrogen-fuelled vehicles and has a fuel-cell technology development agreement with Toyota, which is expected to provide the FCEV powertrain for its next i-car, the i5.

However, it has reportedly cancelled plans to debut its first hydrogen fuel-cell concept – the first fruit of its FCEV venture with Toyota -- at the Detroit motor show in January.

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Written byPeter Lyon
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