Toyota's PR team has been live-Tweeting today while the Toyota HCHV-adv is being delivered to the California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP) for long-term evaluation. They left early this morning and are undertaking a 400-mile trek with no re-fueling opportunities. At least they found an In-N-Out Burger along the way. Here is a list of the Tweets so far (starting with the earliest): A Toyota Fuel Cell Hydrogen Vehicle-Advanced (FCHV-adv) is taking a road trip to Sacramento today. We’ll be tweeting it’s adventures. -Amyabout 6 hours ago from Splitweet The FCHV-adv is being delivered to the California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP) for long-term evaluation. - Amy #toyotaabout 6 hours ago from web http://twitpic.com/304zc - Toyota FCHV-adv parked in Torrance. Fueled and ready to hit the road. -Amyabout 6 hours ago from TwitPic @mattkeegan Yes, the FCHV-adv is built on the 1st gen Toyota Highlander hybrid platform.about 5 hours ago from web in reply to mattkeegan Toyota FCHV-adv hit the road early this morning for its 400+ mile trip to Sacramento w/no fueling opportunities along the way. -Amyabout 5 hours ago from web The caravan includes two FCHV-adv and a one Tundra support vehicle. - Amyabout 4 hours ago from web Stopping at Gorman, on the Grapevine, to refuel the Tundra. But plenty of range on the fuel cell vehicles. - Amy #toyotaabout 4 hours ago from web http://twitpic.com/30ad8 - It's all in the details. The interior details make sure you know you are in a Toyota FCHV-adv - Amyabout 4 hours ago from TwitPic http://twitpic.com/30ahu - Toyota FCHV-adv passenger side - Amyabout 4 hours ago from TwitPic http://twitpic.com/30bc9 - One more interior pic of the Toyota FCHV-adv - Amyabout 4 hours ago from TwitPic FCHV-adv is past Bakersfield, clear driving ahead, not much traffic, nice open fields, sun is shining, can see for miles. - Amy #toyotaabout 3 hours ago from web The CA Fuel Cell Partnership & others evaluated the 1st gen Toyota FCHV that lead to FCHV-adv enhancements. - Amyabout 3 hours ago from web @sketchler We can't comment on Honda's specific technology but the FCHV-adv is an SUV and the FCX Clarity is a sedan. - Amyabout 2 hours ago from web in reply to sketchler http://twitpic.com/30iky - Stopping the Toyota FCHV-adv for lunch at In n Out in Kettleman City - Amyabout 1 hour ago from TwitPic http://twitpic.com/30j42 - Sky is ominous over the Toyota FCHV-adv lunch stop - Amyabout 1 hour ago from TwitPic FCHV-adv fuel system is enhanced over previous gen Toyota FCHV to further improve cruising distance and low-temperature starts. - Amyabout 1 hour ago from web Toyota FCHV-adv can start and operate in cold regions at temps as lows as -30 degrees C. - Amyabout 1 hour ago from web http://twitpic.com/30kfl - Toyota FCHV-adv on the I5 this morning - Amyabout 1 hour ago from TwitPic FCHV-adv fuel efficiency is improved 25% over the previous gen Toyota FCHV. - Amy16 minutes ago from web Fuel efficiency is improved through improved FC unit performance, enhanced regenerative brake system & reduced aux system energy consumption15 minutes ago from web post lunch road status sign read Gusty Winds Ahead. FCHV-adv doing great, since engine noise is so much quieter, wind noise more apparent.1 minute ago from web After lunch FCHV-adv had 196 miles to go. Computer says it’s fine to make it, maybe just a bit less hydrogen left-over at the end. -Amyless than a minute ago from web You can follow Toyota on their Twitter page - http://twitter.com/toyotanewsroom You can also follow PriusChat on our Twitter page - http://twitter.com/PriusChat
Is this a first for a (fuel cell + hybrid) ? I skimmed over those facts quickly, but does anyone know what Toyota's discussion/conclusion was ? Total miles traveled / cost of fuel / net energy consumed / viability in real world ? Did Toyota show a bias in the tweeting ? ("gee Ted, this thing is a clunker compared to the Prius" ) .
The Honda FCX uses a fuel cell in combination with an ultra-capacitor, very similar in concept. That's because 1) you need somewhere to store energy from regenerative breaking and 2) Fuel cells don't change output as much as is desirable for an electric motor with acceleration, uphill stretches, etc. I still don't see the point of fuel cells in cars, if hydrogen is either produced from fossil fuels or electricity, either of which can be used more efficiently via a plug-in hybrid system.
