TheToyota FCHV is ahybridhydrogenfuel cell vehicle development programme of theToyota Motor Corporation, which was leased to a limited number of drivers in the United States[1] and Japan beginning in 2002.[2] The Toyota FCHV andHonda FCX, which began leasing on 2 December 2002, became the world's first government-certified commercial hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.[3][4][5] Its first commercial fuel cell vehicle was developed from theFCHV-4, which was adapted from theToyota Highlander body.[6] "FCHV" stands for "Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle". A number ofprototypes have been produced, up to the latestFCHV-adv ("advanced").
There are six generations of FCHVs for testing. The FCHV-1, introduced in 1996, was Toyota's first fuel cell vehicle, based on theToyota 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 theToyota 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 (CHF) reformer of the FCHV-5 was equipped with a newly developed catalyst and heat exchanger to improve acceleration and fuel economy.[7]
As of 2008 the FCHV-adv was available for lease in Japan.[2] 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 560 km (350 mi) betweenOsaka andTokyo 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 690 km (430 mi) from a 6 kg (13 lb) tank of hydrogen, based on a 331.5-mile (533.5 km) test trip in "real-world" conditions betweenTorrance andSan Diego,California.[8]
The FCHV designs are based on the first generationHighlander SUV, although abus version is also in development. The powertrain consists of a 90kW fuel cell supplied from onboard compressedhydrogen tanks, and anickel–metal hydride battery in parallel. Battery and fuel cell can provide power to the 90 kW drivingmotors either singly or together. The mechanism is very similar to theHybrid Synergy Drive in the ToyotaPrius andToyota Auris HSD but with thefuel cell replacing thepetrolinternal combustion engine, thus minimisinggreenhouse gas emissions at point of use.
At low speeds the FCHV can run on battery alone, with a range of about 50 km (31 mi).[2] For high performance, such as when accelerating from rest, the fuel cell and battery supply power in tandem. The battery can also charge byregenerative braking, improving overall efficiency.
The 700Bar (10000PSI)hydrogen tanks holds 156 liters - enough fuel for a range of 830 kilometers (520 mi) on the Japanese 10-15 test cycle and 760 kilometers (470 mi) on the Japanese JC08 test cycle.[9] Test vehicles on the Japanese 10-15 test cycle average 22.7 kilometers per hour (14.1 mph) with a top speed of 70 kilometers per hour (43 mph).[10] Vehicles on the JC08 test cycle average 24.4 kilometers per hour (15.2 mph) and a top speed of 81.6 kilometers per hour (50.7 mph).[11]
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The Toyota FCHV-BUS is afuel cell bus based on theHino Blue Ribbon City(KL-HU2PMEE) low-floor bus.
FCHV-BUS demonstrated atToei Bus (August 2003 - December 2004) andExpo 2005. After Expo 2005, some were lent to bus fleet operators, and also demonstrated in fuel cell events.
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The FC Bus uses the Toyota Fuel Cell System (TFCS) in a bus, based on experience with Hino on theHino Blue Ribbon bus.
In 2015, the bus was lent toMeitetsu Bus for free, as a demonstration that fuel cell buses were practical. It was used on theToyota City Community BusOiden Bus Toyota East Circle Line (Section：Toyotashi Station ↔Mikawa-Toyota Station).[12] In September on 2015, the bus started runningToyota Oiden Bus Fujioka・Toyota Line (Section：Toyotashi Station ↔ Fujioka Elementary School).
Toyota planned to start sales in 2017 and to have 100 units in Tokyo in time for the 2020 Olympics.[13] The bus was delivered toToei Bus on lease contract.[14]
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 (TFCS) 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 235 kWh (850 MJ).[15]
Toyota started testing twoMirai fuel cells (114 kW each)[16] in a convertedKenworth T680 electricClass 8semi-trailer truck in thePort of Los Angeles in April 2017 as part of 'Project Portal',[17][18] doingdrayage for Toyota.[19] The truck has two motors for a combined 500 kW (670 hp) and 1,795 N⋅m (1,325 lb⋅ft) of torque, a 200 kW[20] 12 kWh battery, and a fixedgear ratio of 15.5:1.[20] It has a range of 320 km (200 mi)[21] determined by the size of the hydrogen tanks. It accelerates (empty) from 0–97 km/h (0–60 mph) in 7 seconds. The motors are mainly powered by the fuel cells rather than from the small battery.[22]
Toyota added aterminal tractor to the project in 2019.[23] The project was updated with a 480 km (300 miles) truck in 2020.[24]
The FCHV is featured in theJules Verne episode of theScience Channel programProphets of Science Fiction. Some measure of credit is given to Jules Verne in the episode, for helping to inspire the idea.
Incredibly, the rig returns a 7.0 second 0-60 mph time. it runs off hydrogen fuel cells and the battery is a boost. Our system is to keep the battery as small as possible and really show the scalability of the fuel cell itself. The fuel cell is providing all of that power.
