Toyota To Introduce Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles in Europe

The move will add further impetus to CEP’s programme of advancing sustainable mobility through the development of hydrogen filling stations and a fuel supply network in Germany.

CEP’s activities are supported by the German Government, which is investing around €2 billion to support the development of hydrogen fuel cell and electric vehicle technologies. Toyota will contribute five of its zero-emissions FCHV-adv hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to the programme in Germany by 2011.

Tadashi Arashima, President and CEO Toyota Motor Europe, said: “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. These various applications of full hybrid technology will each play their role and co-exist in the future.

“Toyota aims at the commercialization of fuel cell vehicles around 2015. 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 and the partnership is also campaigning to increase the proportion of hydrogen fuel produced from renewable sources to 50 per cent.

Credits: wilswong