Toyota to Introduce 5 FCHVs in Germany by 2011

Despite recent media reports that question the quality of Toyota and Lexus vehicles, the Japanese manufacturer still has the strong will to survive on the market. Following a recent agreement between Toyota and the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP), the Japanese manufacturer will make its way through the development of hydrogen filling stations and a fuel supply network in Germany.

The German Government is investing around 2 billion euros to support the development of hydrogen fuel cell and electric vehicle technologies through CEP, and Toyota will introduce five of its zero-emissions FCHV-adv hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to the programme in Germany by 2011.

“We firmly believe that fuel cell hybrid vehicles will play a major role in reducing emissions and achieving sustainable mobility, alongside petrol and plug-in hybrids and pure electric vehicles,” Tadashi Arashima, President and CEO Toyota Motor Europe, said in a release. “These various applications of full hybrid technology will each play their role and co-exist in the future.”

The latest contraptions in Toyota’s product range is currently being displayed at the Geneva Auto Show, including the FT-EVII concept that Toyota plans to market in the US in 2012.

The Toyota FCHV-adv is also on show in Geneva, equipped with a high pressure hydrogen storage tanks give a cruising range of more than 500 miles – more than twice that of its predecessor.

“Toyota aims at the commercialization of fuel cell vehicles around 2015,” Arashima continued, “To achieve this goal a hydrogen charging infrastructure is necessary, so close tie-ups between car manufacturers and infrastructure companies are of vital importance. ”

Other CEP partners are setting up “CO2-free” and hydrogen filling stations at key locations between Berlin and Hamburg, while also campaigning to increase the proportion of hydrogen fuel produced from renewable sources to 50 percent.