• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Toyota Reveals Plans To Release Fuel-Cell Car By 2015

Posted on: Tuesday, 23 June 2009, 07:55 CDT

Toyota Motors, the world's largest automaker, is planning on releasing a fuel-cell car by 2015 in its attempt to retain its lead in the global race for green cars, announced vice president Masatami Takimoto.

His comments were made at a shareholders' meeting at Toyota headquarters after an investor's inquiry about the company's views on zero-emissions technology, but did not offer details.

Fuel-cell technology is thought to be a modern solution to shrinking carbon dioxide emissions as it creates electricity by merging a fuel, like hydrogen, with oxygen, and thus only releases water.

Toyota started selling a fuel-cell hybrid vehicle in 2002 in the United States and Japan, employing technology taken from its popular Prius hybrids.

However, carmakers have usually focused on utilizing more inexpensive technology on the hybrids and battery-powered vehicles.

Fuel-cell systems are expensive because of the technology concerned and it is tricky to house enough hydrogen in a vehicle to let it drive the same distance as a conventional car.

Toyota is hoping that these plans for greener cars will pull it out of its slump.

Toyota lost money for the first time in 70 years when it had a yearly net loss of 4.4 billion dollars.

They anticipate a worse profit in the current year to March.

Vehicle sales are expected to decline to only 6.5 million.

The company wants to enlarge its line of hybrids and reduce costs as in order to turn a profit. In May it released its newer Prius, the best-selling car in Japan that month.

---

On the Net:

• Toyota Motors

Source: redOrbit Staff & Wire Reports

More News in this Category