Toyota Motor Corp. showcased its own hydrogen fuel cell-powered car at the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show.
Decades after the idea of hydrogen-powered cars came into light; the Japan-based automaker has finally unveiled its Toyota FCV in Las Vegas on Monday.
Bob Carter, Toyota's senior vice president, told USA Today, that the newest addition to its lineup of cars is "really going to change our world, sooner rather than later."
Toyota FCV, which can accommodate four passengers, boasts a 310-mile range between fill-ups that lasts for just three minutes. It promises a top speed more than 100 miles/hour and zero-to 60-mile/hour times are about 10 seconds.
It also has a propulsion system that fits perfectly under the seats, and a couple of high-pressure hydrogen tanks that are low-priced and space saving. Majority of its electric drive system are similar with Toyota's hybrid powertrain.
Externally, Toyota FCV pretty looks like a Corolla, but with a huge opening that paves way for "oxygen in, water out," as described by Carter, talking about the usual emission of water in Hydrogen cars.
The automaker is mum about the FCV's production cost, but Carter implied that the foreseeable price of the Hydrogen-powered vehicle will surely put a lot of it on the streets that expected.
"We estimate a 95 percent cost reduction for the powertrain and fuel tanks of the vehicle we will launch in 2015 when you compare that to what it cost for us to build the original Highlander Fuel Cell in 2002," said Carter at the CES presentation.
Toyota also boasts that a fully-fueled FCV could act as a generator that could light up a home for a week.
Aside from FCV, Toyota has also discussed about the idea of hydrogen infrastructures, which is currently lacking in the continent.
At this time, the corporation has reportedly assigned a team to plan and work on ways to make hydrogen infrastructure expansion possible. The company also estimates that by 2015, the U.S. will have 20 hydrogen fuelling stations and 40 in the following year - with majority located in Southern California.
"Stay tuned, because this infrastructure thing is going to happen," Carter said as a closing statement.
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