Toyota has begun leasing their Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle - Advanced

Toyota has begun leasing their Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle - Advanced (FCHV-adv) to the Japanese Ministry of Environment.  The lease will cost the government 840,000 yen (including tax) per month for 30 months.  That's $7,772 according to google.

This is good news for those who want to advance fuel cell vehicles.  Like hybrid gas electric vehicles, fuel cell vehicles could benefit greatly by being hybridized.  It should certainly advance the day they can come out in bigger numbers.

Press Release Follows:

Tokyo, Aug 29, 2008 (JCN Newswire via COMTEX) -- TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announced today that on September 1 it will begin leasing its new fuel cell hybrid vehicle model, the "TOYOTA FCHV-adv*", to Japan's Ministry of the Environment.

TMC also plans to lease the TOYOTA FCHV-adv, which improves on the cruising distance and low-temperature startup performance of the previously leased "TOYOTA FCHV", to other national government entities, local governments and companies in or related to the energy industry. Lease terms are 840,000 yen (including tax) per month for 30 months.

By leasing its fuel cell hybrid vehicles, TMC-which became the world's first automaker to commercialize a fuel cell vehicle when it began leasing the TOYOTA FCHV in Japan in December 2002-can obtain real-world feedback for further development, including efforts to improve the durability and reduce the cost of its proprietary high-performance polymer electrolyte fuel cell, the Toyota FC Stack.

This leasing, as well as TMC's participation in other cooperative efforts with the government, the energy industry and other parties concerned is aimed at helping to bring about the widespread use of fuel cell vehicles.

*Fuel cell hybrid vehicle-advanced

Vehicle Specifications

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Vehicle                                                TOYOTA FCHV-adv
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Overall length/width/height (mm)                      4,735/1,815/1,685
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weight (kg)                                                1,880
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seating capacity                                             5
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum cruising range (km)*
10-15 test cycle/JC08 test cycle                   Approx. 830/Approx. 760
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum speed (km/h)                                        155
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
             | Name                                     Toyota FC Stack
             | ------------------------------------------------------------
Fuel cell    | Type                                   Polymer electrolyte
             | ------------------------------------------------------------
             | Output (kW)                                     90
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
             | Type                                    Permanent magnet
             | ------------------------------------------------------------
Motor        | Maximum output in kW (ps)                   90 (122)
             | ------------------------------------------------------------
             | Maximum torque in N-m (kg-m)               260 (26.5)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
             | Type                                         Hydrogen
             | ------------------------------------------------------------
             | Storage system                   High-pressure storage tanks
Fuel         | ------------------------------------------------------------
             | Maximum storage pressure (MPa)               70
             | ------------------------------------------------------------
             | Tank capacity (L)                           156
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Battery                                          Nickel-metal hydride
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lease term                                             30 months,
                                                  (840,000 yen per month,
                                                 including consumption tax)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Based on TMC calculations