Toyota FCV the 0% emissions competition starts in two years
The price of Toyota’s first commercial fuel cell car offering in the USA is expected to be between $50,000 and $100,000. Speaking at the Fortune Brainstorm Green conference, Toyota Motor Sales USA group vice president of strategic planning Chris Hostetter said that the cost factor of the vehicles, which will be on sale in the USA from 2015, is in the region of $50,000 and that customers should likely see a sticker price under $100,000. Even with an impressive cost reduction from $1 million for Toyota’s 2009 FCHV-adv vehicle, this will still be a costly motor.
Toyota will sell the vehicle in states that follow California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulations in lieu of less severe federal air quality regulations; as CARB predates the federal Clean Air Act states may choose to either follow federal or CARB regulations, but not set their own. Unfortunately the car can also only be sold initially in states that have a viable hydrogen infrastructure; at present that limits sales to California and New York claims Hostetter – combined the states represent just under 20% of the total US car market.
The 2015 vehicle will arrive in a form factor similar to the Prius and the FCV-R fuel cell concept (pictured above) that was unveiled at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. Hostetter says an updated version of the FCV-R will be revealed at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show – being held at the Tokyo Big Sight from 23rd November to 1st December. This new model should give a clearer indication of what can be expected from the 2015 commercial model