Fuel-Cell Concept Takes Toyota Closer to Market

Toyota Motor Corp. has revealed a prototype fuel-cell sedan, bringing the company one step closer to its goal of putting a fuel-cell vehicle on the market in 2015.

The prototype, built on a Lexus HS250h platform, is significant because Toyota has miniaturized key components used to generate electricity from hydrogen, allowing that equipment to fit under the seats of the car rather than in the engine compartment. Total output from the fuel cell is 100 kW.

Toyota also cut the number of on-board hydrogen tanks from four to two higher-pressure units that hold a combined 5 kg (11 pounds) of compressed hydrogen. Refilling takes about 3 minutes.

Component downsizing has reduced system costs and boosted the car's on-road performance, according to Toyota. It says the prototype can travel about 650 km (400 miles) per fill-up and deliver high-speed drivability comparable to that of a car powered by a conventional 2.5-liter gasoline engine.

Toyota says the downsizing process is helping to cut costs by an undisclosed amount. The company predicts the commercial version of the concept will retail in Japan, Europe and the U.S. for about $101,700. But it expects the price to drop to as low as $30,500 by the mid-2020s.

The production car will be built on a modified Lexus HS platform, which is sold as the Toyota Sai sedan in Japan. The car will be marketed under the Toyota brand.

Toyota plans to show a reskinned version of its fuel-cell vehicle at the Tokyo auto show in November.