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Toyota Releases Final FCV Fuel Cell Vehicle Design
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By John Goreham Jun 25 2014 - 10:40am

Toyota shows off final FCV Fuel Cell Vehicle Look

Toyota's FCV design is now finished. The vehicle has a familiar look to our eye.
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FCV Rear
FCV Side
FCV Front

Today Toyota revealed the final look of its Fuel Cell Vehicle, FCV, for the Japanese market. The new FCV has a familiar look, partly because it has been shown before in prototype versions, but partly too because it looks like other fuel efficient designs we have seen. This version will also be very close to what goes on sale in the US.

FCV Has a Familiar Look
The look of the FCV to my eye is that of the GM EV-1 in some views. I also see a bit of the Saturn styling from the side. In addition, it is hard not to see some of the Honda FCEV, which our Honda reporter, Parks McCants recently pointed out, has been in development for 55 years and is still not for sale. The Honda FCEV has been leased to small numbers of customers in a sort of beta version for a number of years.

FCV Optimized For Fuel Economy
Clearly the new Toyota FCV has been optimized for aerodynamics to provide the best possible fuel economy. The car was not designed with good looks as its primary directive. However, neither was the Prius, and its sales speak for themselves. Tell us in the comments section if you feel the looks of this vehicle will matter much to its success.

Toyota FCV Launch Dates
Toyota plans to launch the new FCV in April of 2015 in the Japanese market. The vehicle in its US version, will then bow in the US market in the summer of 2105. For more information on the Toyota FCV and how the company plans to support the fueling of its fleet, please see our related stories below.

Toyota's new FCV fuel cell sedan concept hints it may skip EVs
Toyota, California, and FirstElement Fuel to build 100 hydrogen stations

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Comments

Gardner Harris wrote on June 25, 2014 - 5:39pm
2105 is a long way off but long term testing should be totally complete by then <g>
Parks McCants wrote on June 26, 2014 - 1:11am
FCEV makes much sence for the future of transportation........ If we can expand a fueling network on a workable time frame. No plugin, extended range and a renewable( methane derived) fuel supply. B.T.W. Thanks for the mention. Much appreciated, good read.
John Goreham wrote on June 27, 2014 - 5:47pm
Despite an honest effort at having an open mind about hydrogen, and then using it in a fuel cell, I still can't get past having been to a place in CT that made fuel cells. On the wall outside they had the red-ox reaction showing how a fuel cell gets electricity form natural gas. CO2 is on the products side. So what's the point? I still don't understand where we would get enough H to power a substantial car fleet without producing CO2. Electrolysis makes no sense unless we have waaay more nuke plants. And since they have not built any new ones in a long time, I'm not counting on that.
Parks McCants wrote on June 27, 2014 - 6:57pm
I hope to interview the general manager of Honda's fuel cell program in the near future. Your concerns( logic) are well justified. Let's see what his responce is. Thanks John.
John Goreham wrote on June 27, 2014 - 6:59pm
That would be a great interview/story. Look forward to it.