Toyota aims for $50,000 hydrogen sedan by 2015

Eric Loveday — Fri, 07 May 2010 13:30:00 EST

Third-gen Toyota FCHV-adv - Click above for high-res image gallery

Toyota is undoubtedly known more for its hybrid vehicles than its hydrogen-powered cars, but that could tilt just a little if the company can make good on claims of a production-ready hydrogen sedan for around $50,000. According to Toyota, this price is achievable because costs have dropped tremendously on its fuel-cell technology, about 90 percent in the last five years alone. Toyota even states that its hydrogen sedan, slated for debut in 2015, would be profitable at the price listed above, but we have our doubts about that.

Doubts aside, here's the words of Toyota's managing director of advanced autos, Yoshihiko Masuda:

Our target is, we don't lose money with introduction of the vehicle. Production cost should be covered within the price of the vehicle.

Even if Toyota can be profitable at the $50,000 price, there are still other issues to be concerned with such as the fact that the Nissan Leaf will sell for half that amount and $50k is a heck of a lot of dough to spend on unproven technology. Even Toyota admits it's a little expensive as Masuda added that the hydrogen sedan is similar to a gasoline car but "with some extra cost." Will buyers be willing to foot this extra cost? We don't think so, but we should find out in a few years.

Gallery: Third-gen Toyota FCHV-adv

Photos by Sebastian Blanco / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Bloomberg]

Toyota aims for $50,000 hydrogen sedan by 2015 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 May 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota reaffirms 2015 release of new hydrogen vehicle

Sebastian Blanco — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:27:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Green, Toyota, Electric

Toyota Highlander FCV - Click above for high-res image gallery

In 2007, Toyota drove one of its hydrogen fuel cell vehicles from Alaska to Vancouver, British Columbia. Earlier that same year, a Toyota FCHV drove from Tokyo to Osaka on one tank. The company is certainly in favor of at least researching the technology, and it has repeatedly said that it will start series production of a fuel cell vehicle in the middle of the next decade. At one point, Toyota hinted that 2014 might mark the big year, but that's looking unlikely now.

During a recent shareholders' meeting in Japan, Toyota VP Masatami Takimoto said that Toyota now plans to start production of this new car in 2015. That's still quite soon, as no one expects the hydrogen infrastructure problem to be solved by then. Thanks to Greg B. for the tip!

Gallery: LA 2007: Toyota Highlander Fuel Cell

[Source: AFP]

Toyota reaffirms 2015 release of new hydrogen vehicle originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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