Recently, CES 2014, the international innovations show, took place. Such shows usually focus on gadgets and appliances which seem to come from the future. But this year, Toyota came into the spotlight with its FCV electric car concept, supposed to function on a combination of hydrogen and air.
The Toyota FCV concept is a medium-sized 4 doors Sedan with no toxic releases, all it releases being water vapors. What is most interesting about this concept is not that it is an electric car, but that it is an electric car which does not need to be plugged to charge. By combining the air and hydrogen, it creates both water and electricity, the car using the latter for propulsion.
The hydrogen enters into reaction with the air and creates water and electricity. For a long time, hydrogen powered cars have been considered an unhappy attempt at finding an alternative to fossil fuel.
During the past few years, electrical technologies based on batteries have led to the invention of hybrid, plug-in cars, which are speedily gaining popularity; but the problem with them is the lack of the recharging infrastructure and the high costs of the batteries.
Hydrogen motor cars are faced with the same issues concerning high costs. Additionally, their fuel is more dangerous and infrastructure for it being virtually inexistant.
The Japanese engineer claims the car has an autonomy of 500 km, but it obviously can only be launched in a region where there are hydrogen power stations – and these are very rare away from Iceland!