Toyota will have at least three production fuel cell hybrid electric vehicle (FHEV) models on sale within ten years. That's the official word from the company's Torrance California-(USA) based National Manager Advanced Technology Vehicles, Craig Scott.
Scott revealed the three model roll-out during motoring.com.au's visit to Toyota's USA headquarters on Monday (July 21).
The Toyota exec stated his team was working on two new FHEV models with target 'to market' dates of 2020 and 2025. The new vehicles are in addition to the Auris Hybrid/Prius based FCV hydrogen-fuelled fuel cell hybrid sedan that went on sale recently in Japan and will be sold in the US, German and UK markets from 2015.
The 2020 release is believed to be a mid-to-large sized SUV style vehicle with which Toyota is targeting a comparative fuel mileage of around 65mpg (3.6L/100km). It's also likely to debut as Toyota's first totally 'by wire' vehicle.
There are no hints of the identity of the third vehicle to market, although Scott said a Tundra (full-size pick-up) style fuel cell hybrid vehicle was "completely possible and reasonable".
According to Scott, in terms of total well-to-wheel efficiency FHEV are already around 50 per cent better than conventional petrol-powered vehicles. This statistic is based on the assumption that the gaseous hydrogen fuel required for fuel cell operation is made from natural gas using power that includes one third renewable (solar or wind for example).
With a higher percentage of renewable electricity and the use of biomass as the feed stock for hydrogen production, the efficiency gap is increased markedly.
Based on the Auris/Prius plug-in hybrid platform, the FCV is radically styled but underneath leverages a significant amount of the current vehicle's driveline. Instead of an internal combustion engine and generator combination acting to charge onboard batteries, a hydrogen fuel cell generates electricity with no emissions save for pure water (and some nitrogen) and minimal moving parts.
Toyota says the power output of the fuel cell and electric hybrid drive will approximate an over-100kW combustion engine. The expected range from 5kg of hydrogen fuel is in the order of 480km.
The FCV's hydrogen is stored in carbon-fibre reinforced storage cylinders at 10,000psi but enters the fuel cell at near atmospheric pressure.
Toyota says it has tested pre-production examples of the car in a wide range of conditions including cold testing at -30 degrees C in Yellowknife (Canada) and Nevada's Death Valley at +50.
While the FCV will feature brake, gearshift and throttle 'by wire', the next gen 2020 vehicle will also feature 'steer by wire'. This is expected to be Toyota's first foray into the technology.
Currently the only production car with a steer-by-wire system is Infiniti's Q50 midsize premium sedan.
While the Infiniti retains a conventional 'fail-safe' mechanical connection between rack and wheel, Toyota will seek to unlock the true packaging and weight saving steer-by-wire delivers by completely mechanically isolating the steering wheel and wheels. Systems like this are already used in aircraft.