Jul. 18, 2006
Hino Motors, Ltd.
Toyota Motor Corporation
Toyota Motor Corporation
Toyota-Hino Fuel Cell Bus to Serve Centrair and Vicinity
Tokyo ― TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) and HINO MOTORS, LTD. (Hino) announced today that its FCHV-BUS, which operated on public routes in mid-March around the Central Japan International Airport (Centrair) south of Nagoya, is to renew operation on July 22, including expanded service to and within the airport.
The effort is part of a fuel cell demonstration program of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's (METI's) Japan Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Demonstration Project (JHFC) and is intended to provide TMC and others with data necessary for the commercialization of fuel cell hybrid buses.
Specifically, the FCHV-BUS (short for "fuel cell hybrid vehicle – bus") will cover the entire "Tokoname Bus Route", from the "Chitahanda" stop to the route's terminal "Centrair" stop, as well as a circular route on the airport's man-made island. The bus will be operated by Chitanoriai Co., Ltd. (Chitanoriai), with which TMC and Hino teamed up to operate the bus from March 9 to 22 around Centrair as part of the Fuel Cell Vehicle Practical Application Promotion Project of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT).
Furthermore, with the cooperation of Chubu Sky Support Co., Ltd. (CSS), two units of the FCHV-BUS will be used by CSS to shuttle passengers between Centrair's passenger terminal and airplanes on the tarmac.
The buses will be fueled at the JHFC Centrair Hydrogen Station, which will be set up within Centrair as part of the JHFC's Demonstration Study of Hydrogen Fueling Facilities for Fuel Cell Vehicles.
For reference
The effort is part of a fuel cell demonstration program of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's (METI's) Japan Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Demonstration Project (JHFC) and is intended to provide TMC and others with data necessary for the commercialization of fuel cell hybrid buses.
Specifically, the FCHV-BUS (short for "fuel cell hybrid vehicle – bus") will cover the entire "Tokoname Bus Route", from the "Chitahanda" stop to the route's terminal "Centrair" stop, as well as a circular route on the airport's man-made island. The bus will be operated by Chitanoriai Co., Ltd. (Chitanoriai), with which TMC and Hino teamed up to operate the bus from March 9 to 22 around Centrair as part of the Fuel Cell Vehicle Practical Application Promotion Project of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT).
Furthermore, with the cooperation of Chubu Sky Support Co., Ltd. (CSS), two units of the FCHV-BUS will be used by CSS to shuttle passengers between Centrair's passenger terminal and airplanes on the tarmac.
The buses will be fueled at the JHFC Centrair Hydrogen Station, which will be set up within Centrair as part of the JHFC's Demonstration Study of Hydrogen Fueling Facilities for Fuel Cell Vehicles.
For reference
- The National Traffic Safety and Environment Laboratory, which serves as the main institution conducting research for the Fuel Cell Vehicle Practical Application Promotion Project of the MLIT, made an appeal to private companies in January 2006 to find companies interested in public road-testing of fuel cell buses. TMC and Hino jointly responded and were selected.
- The Japan Automobile Research Institute, which is promoting the JHFC under METI, made an appeal in April of 2006 for third party participant companies and organizations to run a fleet of fuel cell vehicles. TMC and Hino responded jointly and were selected.
FCHV-BUS Planned Routes of Operation
1) Route buses (operated by Chitanoriai)
1) Route buses (operated by Chitanoriai)
| Tokoname Route | |
| Operational area | From "Chitahanda" stop to "Centrair" stop and back |
| Number of buses | 1 |
| Frequency | 1 roundtrip / day |
| Cargo Area Circular Route | |
| Operational area | From passenger terminal to "Sogo-butsuryu-chuo" stop and back in loop |
| Number of buses | 1(same vehicle as above) |
| Frequency | Mon-Fri: 7 roundtrips / day; Sat & Sun: 5 roundtrips / day |
2) Passenger Transfer Bus (operated by CSS)
| Air terminal-airplane runs | |
| Operational area | Centrair tarmac |
| Number of buses | 2 |
| Frequency | 7:00 - 22:00 |
Outline of the FCHV-BUS
1) Development
The FCHV-BUS was developed jointly by TMC and Hino, using technology and know-how cultivated by both companies―TMC developed the fuel cell hybrid system and Hino developed the vehicle body and other components of the bus.
2) Main features
The FCHV-BUS features an electric-motor hybrid system powered by a battery and fuel cells supplied with high-pressure hydrogen gas. During operation, it does not emit carbon dioxide, said to be a cause of global warming, or other atmospheric pollutants, such as nitrogen oxide; it is highly energy-efficient, as well as very quiet.
1) Development
The FCHV-BUS was developed jointly by TMC and Hino, using technology and know-how cultivated by both companies―TMC developed the fuel cell hybrid system and Hino developed the vehicle body and other components of the bus.
2) Main features
The FCHV-BUS features an electric-motor hybrid system powered by a battery and fuel cells supplied with high-pressure hydrogen gas. During operation, it does not emit carbon dioxide, said to be a cause of global warming, or other atmospheric pollutants, such as nitrogen oxide; it is highly energy-efficient, as well as very quiet.
3) FCHV-BUS Main Specifications
| Vehicle | Name | FCHV-BUS |
| Base platform | Hino Blue Ribbon City (low-floor commuter bus) | |
| Overall length / width / height | 10,515 / 2,490 / 3,360mm | |
| Maximum speed | 80km/h | |
| Occupant capacity | Route bus: 62 people / Passenger transfer bus: 63 people | |
| Fuel cell | Name | Toyota FC Stack |
| Type | Polymer electrolyte | |
| Output | 90kW x 2 | |
| Motor | Type | Permanent magnet |
| Maximum output | 80kW x 2 | |
| Maximum torque | 260N-m x 2 | |
| Fuel | Type | Hydrogen |
| Storage system | High-pressure hydrogen storage tanks | |
| Maximum storage pressure | 35Mpa | |
| Battery | Type | Nickel-metal hydride |
For Reference
| At 13:00 on Friday, July 21, Aichi Prefecture, Toho Gas Co., Ltd., Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation and Nippon Steel Corporation are scheduled to hold a dedication ceremony at the site of the new JHFC Centrair Hydrogen Station. As related events, a children's class on fuel cell vehicles and a forum related to the demonstration of fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen stations are also planned for the same day at Centrair. |
