The way I see it, hydrogen fuel is the real fuel of the future. It sounds almost too good to be true; clean, abundant, and the only emissions is a little H20. Of course, most hydrogen is made from natural gas right now, but that could change in the future. Also, the whole lack of infrastructure and high cost of hydrogen cars has made automakers focus on other technologies that can come to market sooner.
Toyota, however, has never given up on hydrogen. They have managed to cut the costs of hydrogen fuel technology by hundreds of thousands of dollars, to the point where they plan to offer a hydrogen fuel cell powered sedan in five years for around $50,000.
According to Bloomberg, Toyota has managed to pare down the costs of hydrogen fuel technology by nearly 90% over the past decade. Early estimates pegged the cost of a hydrogen fuel car at $1 million or more. Now I could see spending $1 million on a Bugatti Veyron. But a family sedan? Not bloody likely.
But $50,000 is a lot easier pill to swallow. People already spend that on cars, SUV’s, and trucks. While a $50,000 Toyota seems a bit out of place, being first to market with a hydrogen vehicle would be a huge boon. Toyota is aiming to not lose money on hydrogen cars, unlike GM, which has admitted it will lose money on its first generation Chevy Volt. If they can make hydrogen cars affordable, AND make money on them… maybe hydrogen cars are closer than we think. We still need an infrastructure, but hopefully GM’s plans in Hawaii lead to something larger down the road.
Among the ways Toyota cut costs was reducing the use of platinum by two-thirds, though they still use over an ounce of the precious metal per car. And at cost of over $1,675 an ounce, that adds a lot of money to the car. And that is just one single component out of hundreds of thousands. Toyota says their hydrogen fuel vehicle would have comparable range to a gasoline car, and at the cost of $50,000 they would be able to turn a profit and still appeal to the market… though the car might be better marketed as a Lexus.
GM, Hyundai, Honda, and Mazda are among the other companies working to bring a hydrogen fuel car to market before 2020.
Do you think there will be a $50,000 hydrogen-fuel car on the market by 2015? And if there is, would you buy it?
Source: Bloomberg | Image: Toyota
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About Christopher DeMorro
This is a bait and switch.
Who the hell needs hydrogen when the models s from tesla is coming out that gets 300miles to a charge??
In other words batteries are getting better. Devices are coming out now that can charge 80% of your battery in less then 10 minutes.
You add sun panels to your roof and driving will be free.
This is a bait and switch.
Who the hell needs hydrogen when the models s from tesla is coming out that gets 300miles to a charge??
In other words batteries are getting better. Devices are coming out now that can charge 80% of your battery in less then 10 minutes.
You add sun panels to your roof and driving will be free.
This is a bait and switch.
Who the hell needs hydrogen when the models s from tesla is coming out that gets 300miles to a charge??
In other words batteries are getting better. Devices are coming out now that can charge 80% of your battery in less then 10 minutes.
You add sun panels to your roof and driving will be free.
I hope criminals won’t have a field day stealing the precious metal from our cars.
I hope criminals won’t have a field day stealing the precious metal from our cars.
This is great, water as emissions is a plus. I’m surprised it’s estimated at only $50,000.
Johny – Tesla isn’t for everyone they only currently make sports cars. Toyota is a car for the masses, take a look around you whilst driving and see how many Toyotas there are. They have a much better reputation and are much more popular. Also, at $50,000 the Toyota is half the price of a current 100% electric Telsa Roadster.
This is great, water as emissions is a plus. I’m surprised it’s estimated at only $50,000.
Johny – Tesla isn’t for everyone they only currently make sports cars. Toyota is a car for the masses, take a look around you whilst driving and see how many Toyotas there are. They have a much better reputation and are much more popular. Also, at $50,000 the Toyota is half the price of a current 100% electric Telsa Roadster.
This is great, water as emissions is a plus. I’m surprised it’s estimated at only $50,000.
Johny – Tesla isn’t for everyone they only currently make sports cars. Toyota is a car for the masses, take a look around you whilst driving and see how many Toyotas there are. They have a much better reputation and are much more popular. Also, at $50,000 the Toyota is half the price of a current 100% electric Telsa Roadster.
I think it’s a lot more likely that Nissan will fulfil it’s promise of doubling the range of it’s Leaf by 2015 than Toyota of having a hydrogen vehicle on the market in 2015. Since a 200 mile range Leaf is likely to be actually affordable while driving an $ 50K hydrogen Toyota will most likely turn out to be a very expensive hobby indeed without an environmental upside, I really see don’t see the point of Toyota’s continued effort.
I think it’s a lot more likely that Nissan will fulfil it’s promise of doubling the range of it’s Leaf by 2015 than Toyota of having a hydrogen vehicle on the market in 2015. Since a 200 mile range Leaf is likely to be actually affordable while driving an $ 50K hydrogen Toyota will most likely turn out to be a very expensive hobby indeed without an environmental upside, I really see don’t see the point of Toyota’s continued effort.
I think it’s a lot more likely that Nissan will fulfil it’s promise of doubling the range of it’s Leaf by 2015 than Toyota of having a hydrogen vehicle on the market in 2015. Since a 200 mile range Leaf is likely to be actually affordable while driving an $ 50K hydrogen Toyota will most likely turn out to be a very expensive hobby indeed without an environmental upside, I really see don’t see the point of Toyota’s continued effort.
Phil,
You need read my post again, I wrote the model “S” not the roadster which they are going to start mass manufacturing next year.
Nissan leafs 1st generation car is going to give us 100miles per charge and this is only the begining.
Other companies will be jumping on the bandwagon soon.
Phil,
You need read my post again, I wrote the model “S” not the roadster which they are going to start mass manufacturing next year.
Nissan leafs 1st generation car is going to give us 100miles per charge and this is only the begining.
Other companies will be jumping on the bandwagon soon.
Phil,
You need read my post again, I wrote the model “S” not the roadster which they are going to start mass manufacturing next year.
Nissan leafs 1st generation car is going to give us 100miles per charge and this is only the begining.
Other companies will be jumping on the bandwagon soon.
Phil, Tesla plans on making cheaper cars as they gain dominance, for their third car they are going to try and bring the price down to 30k. Hydrogen is a joke tbh.
Phil, Tesla plans on making cheaper cars as they gain dominance, for their third car they are going to try and bring the price down to 30k. Hydrogen is a joke tbh.
Phil, Tesla plans on making cheaper cars as they gain dominance, for their third car they are going to try and bring the price down to 30k. Hydrogen is a joke tbh.
Hydrogen smydrogen. Sounds like the same company {toyota} that touted a hydrogen SUV to relace the EV1 for the crooks in California way back when. Every time a electric car starts to become a realty they dangle the hydrogen “carrot” out to the public. As batteries continue to improve who cares about the “mythical” hydrogen car?
Hydrogen smydrogen. Sounds like the same company {toyota} that touted a hydrogen SUV to relace the EV1 for the crooks in California way back when. Every time a electric car starts to become a realty they dangle the hydrogen “carrot” out to the public. As batteries continue to improve who cares about the “mythical” hydrogen car?
Hydrogen smydrogen. Sounds like the same company {toyota} that touted a hydrogen SUV to relace the EV1 for the crooks in California way back when. Every time a electric car starts to become a realty they dangle the hydrogen “carrot” out to the public. As batteries continue to improve who cares about the “mythical” hydrogen car?