Hydrogen-powered concept revealed: Toyota FCV
Just ahead of its world premiere, the Toyota FCV concept was revealed, previewing a future hydrogen fuel cell-powered hybrid production car planned to launch in 2015.
This is a follow-up to the FCV-R concept that was shown at September’s Frankfurt motor show, the four-seat Toyta FCV concept is claimed to have a refueling time of three minutes and an alleged driving range of ‘at least 500km’ – down from the FCV-R’s claimed range of up to 830km.
This year’s FCV-R is differentiated from earlier concepts and the version shown at the 2011 Tokyo motor show. It features a new grille, new front bumper with large side air intakes, a new bonnet and is finished in an alternative blue hue.
The vents flowing from the headlights to the A-pillars and new wheels wrapped in blue-striped Bridgestone tyres work together to complete the exterior package along with a rear end that the Japanese carmaker says was inspired by the stern of a catamaran.
The concept is powered by a compact 3kW per liter fuel cell stack which produces ‘at least 100kW’, two 70MPa high-pressure hydrogen tanks and a high-efficiency boost converter to increase voltage.
The FCV will be sharing its manufacturer’s Tokyo stand with the FV2, or Fun Vehicle 2, a vehicle that connects driver and transport via a smartphone app, as well as a new-look ‘Flash Red’ version of the FT-86 Open concept first revealed at Geneva.
The FV2 was apparently meant to create a more intimate relationship between vehicle and driver, Toyota saying that they designed it to create something similar to the trust and understanding that develops between a rider and their horse. And this analogy goes a bit further because the FV2 is steered by body weight as opposed to the more conventional steering wheel and it also employs an ‘augmented reality’ windscreen display, while also offering drivers the ability to change its exterior body color ‘at will’.
