44th Tokyo Motor Show - Highlights

The Tokyo Motor Show is an opportunity for Japanese manufacturers to reveal their latest production-ready and concept vehicles.  Below is a summary of the vehicles which have sustainability in mind, with some noticeable introductions of 'Vehicle to Home' (V2H) energy systems. Amongst other applications, these can provide short-term emergency power - something Japan is very sensitive to, following the 2011 tsunami and Fukushima disaster.

Toyota FCV Plus (2015) - in 'power sharing' mode

Honda Clarity FCV

Honda's investment in hydrogen energy continues, with the Clarity saloon, the first to incorporate the entire fuel-cell powertrain in the space normally occupied by the engine and transmission.  It has a cruising range of 700km, and the Japanese version of the model can act as a mobile power plant, with an external power feeding inverter.

Honda FCV

Lexus LF-FC

Lexus have introduced the Lexus LF-FC, a fuel-cell powered flagship concept.  Here are the details of the powertrain:

"At the heart of the LF-FC is a high output fuel cell power system that energizes the rear wheels, and also sends power to two in-wheel motors in the front, making the LF-FC all-wheel-drive. This innovative drive system allows precise torque distribution control between the front and rear wheels, giving the full-size sedan exceptional dynamic handling and superior road stability. The strategic placement of the fuel-cell stack at the rear of the vehicle, power control unit at the front and T-formation configured hydrogen fuel tanks result in front and rear weight distribution optimal for a sporty sedan."

New luxurious Lexus Concept - teaser image

Lexus LC-FC

Mercedes-Benz Tokyo Concept

Mercedes have released their 'Tokyo Concept' vehicle, aimed at 'generation Z' (those born after 1995!), living in mega-cities.  'Deep machine learning' and an intelligent Predictive Engine means it adapts to its occupants' preferences over time.  It's assumed to be a hydrogen fuel-cell powertrain under its sleek body.

Mercedes-Benz Tokyo Concept - pre-show teaser image

Mercedes-Benz Tokyo Concept

Mercedes-Benz Tokyo Concept

Mitsubishi eX

Mitsubishi are due to launch a new all-electric EV, the eX.

Mitsubishi eX

In the ever-increasingly competitive compact SUV market, the eX will have all-wheel drive, automated driving technologies, active safety and connected features.

An Outlander PHEV will also be demonstrated in a 'Vehicle to X' (e.g. home) setup, showing how the battery can be used to power the home.

Nissan Gripz

One of two EV concepts being introduced by Nissan at Tokyo this year is the Gripz.

Nissan Gripz Concept

An efficient gasoline engine powers the same electric motor used in the Nissan Leaf. 

Nissan Teatro for Dayz

Nissan's concept car has a peculiar name, 'Teatro for Dayz', and ahead of the motor show isn't giving anything away about its powertrain, except that it's an EV.  Hopefully we'll find out more soon...

Nissan Teatro for Dayz

Toyota FCV Plus

Hydrogen power is currently the underdog to be the dominant fuel source for mobility solutions in the future, but some manufacturers are investing huge amounts in the technology - see my recent blog to read about some examples (including the Mirai from Toyota).  Toyota has now taken this one step further, and sees hydrogen cars as being an energy source to share with the community.  Specifically, as well as its own hydrogen tank, it can also generate electricity from an external hydrogen source, allowing the power generated to be available at home, work, etc.

Toyota FCV Plus (2015)

Toyota FCV Plus (2015) - inside

Hydrogen cars - update

In a recent blog, I gave an overview that alongside the momentum behind plug-in electric and hybrid cars, manufacturers are still investing in hydrogen-powered mobility via fuel cells. Below, I've outlined another couple of recent developments which continue to suggest there's strong interest in making it part of our future.

Japanese manufacturers

Toyota, Nissan and Honda have added significant weight behind the support for developing a more robust hydrogen infrastructure in Japan.  

Hydrogen Station in Ebina city, Kanagawa Prefecture

Looking holistically across the product service system, the initiatives include:

• Working with infrastructure providers to improve customer service levels
• Extending operating hours
• Promoting Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCVs)

Nissan, Toyota and Honda in agreement on hydrogen

Honda FCV

Toyota Mirai

More information here.

BMW Hydrogen development

BMW announced a partnership with Toyota in 2013 for fuel cell electric vehicle development, and have recently showcased a prototype based on their 5 series Gran Turismo.

5 Series Gran Turismo - powered by hydrogen

Its features include:

• 180kW electric motor
• Hydrogen storage from a 'tunnel tank' between the front and rear axles
• A >300 mile range
• Refuelling in less than 5 minutes

With rapid refuelling and a impressive range, it sets a high bar for electric vehicles to challenge.

Hydrogen refuelling

BMW have also released images of a futuristic hydrogen-powered prototype, with a more than passing similarity to the current i8:

BMW Hydrogen Fuel Cell eDrive technology

BMW Hydrogen Fuel Cell eDrive technology 

Hydrogen - an answer to pollution in cities?

For automotive transport, hydrogen power is one possible answer to the huge challenge of cities looking to control their pollution levels - producing tailpipe emissions of water.  But, other than a couple of small scale pilots, the odd bus and taxi funded by a couple of technology grants, the technology isn't going anywhere is it?  Well, car manufacturers seem to think differently, with a recent push for production-ready models being introduced.  In parallel to this, researchers have found potential for the 'wonder material' graphene to potentially support hydrogen fuel cell development.

Below, I'll introduce a selection of hydrogen cars, a reference to public transport solutions, the refuelling infrastructure, and where the hydrogen comes from.

The Car's the Star...

Here's a selection of cars which are powered by Hydrogen now (in alphabetical order).  Some were launched in the last five years, but interestingly,  recent motor shows (especially LA) have seen a bit of a proliferation, which is encouraging that R&D spend is being spent on commercialising the technology.

Most cars have carbon-fibre reinforced hydrogen storage tanks onboard (refilled in as little as 3 minutes).  The hydrogen is then mixed with air (oxygen specifically) in a fuel cell (the clever bit with a catalyst), which generates energy to power an electric motor to the drivetrain.  Additional batteries may provide the ability to capture the energy from braking.

Audi A7 h-Tron

Audi A7 h-tron

• 228bhp
• carbon-fibre hydrogen tanks
• four wheel drive
• low-temperature proton exchange membrane (LT PEM) fuel cell stack
• Range up to 311 miles
• Platinum catalyst
• Incorporates a plug-in 8.8kW/h lithium-ion battery to improve range further 
• 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds

More information on Autocar's website here.

BMW Hydrogen 7

BMW Hydrogen 7

BMW have made 100 Hydrogen 7 cars available to 'leading figures in the world' (seems mine has got a little waylaid).

*UPDATE* Dec 18th 2014 - BMW have confirmed they are continuing to invest in Hydrogen (in partnership with Toyota) - see Autocar for more information.

Honda FCV

Honda FCV

• Successor to the FCX Clarity
• Expected 2016 release
• 300+ mile range (Honda hope!)
• 3-5 minute refueling time

More information here.

Hyundai ix35 FCEV

• Plans to manufacture 1000 vehicles by 2015
• 369 mile range, on 3 minutes fuelling

More information here.

 
Mercedes B-Class F-CELL

Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL

• 200 vehicles were delivered to customers in December 2010

More information here.

Toyota Mirai

Toyota Mirai

In 1997, Toyota changed the rules of the game, by introducing the Prius.  Well, it's at it again, so we should probably take this pretty seriously - the Mirai.

To attract motorists on the West Coast of the US, they have developed a pretty impressive microsite - check it out here.

*UPDATE - Jan 2015* Toyota have opened their fuel-cell patents to others

Volkswagen Golf SportWagen HyMotion

VW Hymotion

• Uses a low-temperature proton exchange membrane (LT-PEM) - presumably very similar to their sister group Audi use in the A7 h-tron, above

Some more details from Autocar here.

Volvo

Back in 2010, Volvo announced work to develop the C30 DRIVe Electric to incorporate a hydrogen fuel cell, to help extend the range.

Volvo C30 DRIVe Electric

More information here.


Public Transport is joining in...


Taxi


For London 2012 Olympics, five iconic black cabs were launched, powered by hydrogen.  Here's a (not that exciting!) video showing them:

They were refuelled at Heathrow, and used to take dignitaries into London.  Apparently, they have a range of 250mph, and one has been as fast as 95mph on a test track.


Bus

Transport for London (TfL) runs a fleet of 8 hydrogen buses on its tourist-friendly RV1 bus route:

RV1 Hydrogen Bus, London

More information can be found here from the 2010 press release.  This of course misses the subsequent news that the buses were temporarily withdrawn from the route during the London 2012 Olympics, as part of a hazardous materials ban.


Refuelling Infrastructure

Of course, having hydrogen vehicles is only part of the puzzle, you also need viable options to refuel them (much like the current 'range anxiety' issues with EVs).  For the UK though, there is some good progress:

• The Government recently announced an additional £11m of funding to support hydrogen filling stations (example below) and a concentrated public sector fleet of 40 vehicles.

• Sainsbury's are collaborating with Air Products to install the first supermarket forecourt dispenser

*UPDATE - January 2015* In Japan, Tokyo's making investments in hydrogen infrastructure ahead of the 2020 Olympics, in helping reduce its reliance on Nuclear.  As reported by Bloomberg, they are hoping to build 35 refueling stations, and have 6000 hydrogen cars on the road by then.

But where does the Hydrogen come from?

Having tailpipe emissions of just water is pretty attractive, especially in cities like London, which are under incredible pressure to reduce their emissions.  However, it's important that any environmental impact isn't just externalised somewhere else, namely at the point of hydrogen manufacture.

Hydrogen is of course everywhere, in fact it's earth's most abundant element.  The snag is that it tends to hang-around pretty closely with its other element friends, and it takes a fair bit of energy to separate them.  So, the trick is to be able to isolate it, and store it safely.  There are a few options (taken from Toyota's helpful site):

• Gasification - high temperature organic waste
• Steam reforming - high temperature reaction between methane (natural gas). and steam
• Electrolysis - passing current through water, to separate hydrogen and oxygen

Some of these sources aren't free of emissions, so there needs to be an ongoing push to source the energy needed from low-carbon sources, else we won't have delivered a net environmental benefit.  And on that note, it's worth celebrating a UK first, courtesy of Honda, who have recently launched a solar-powered hydrogen production and refuelling facility on their Swindon site - what an incredible achievement!

Honda's hydrogen production and refuelling facility