Toyota Develops the FCHV-4, a New Type of Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle

Tokyo -- TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announced today that it has recently developed a new type of fuel cell hybrid vehicle called the FCHV-4, which has received a Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport-certified license plate allowing it to be used on public roads.

The FCHV-4, powered by hydrogen stored in high-pressure tanks, was developed in tandem with the FCHV-3, a FCHV unveiled in February that uses hydrogen-absorbing alloy tanks.

Having acquired the specially certified license plate, TMC has begun road tests to demonstrate the performance of its fully independently developed fuel cell system. These tests include a three-year period of data gathering, which involves putting the car through its paces in such demanding environments as expressways and steep roads. This information will be applied to the development of a thoroughly practical FCHV.

Since it began all-out efforts in 1992, TMC has developed various types of FCHVs, including a hydrogen-absorbing alloy tank type, as well as with a methanol reformer type. At the same time, it has been conducting wide-ranging research on fuel types, such as clean hydrocarbon fuel (CHF), an evolved form of gasoline, and several others.

In the FCHV-4, hydrogen is directly stored in high-pressure tanks. Adopting the body of Toyota's Kluger V SUV, the FCHV-4 also features the Toyota FC Stack, a high-performance fuel cell stack with an output of 90 kW. Coupling this wholly TMC-developed stack with a secondary battery that gives the vehicle regenerative braking capabilities and other attributes is representative of the FCHV-4's unique hybrid system.

Furthermore, the FCHV-4 has a newly developed heat pump air-conditioning system that uses CO2 as the refrigerant instead of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

TMC has been running road tests for five FCHV-4s in Japan and plans to take two more units to the United States in July for participation in the California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP) fuel cell vehicle road-test project.