Toyota and Tech Advance

From the Green Car Advisor at Edmunds.com (hat tip: C-J)...

Toyota Motor Corp. has shown reporters in Japan a hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle that has more than twice the range of its present FC model -- thanks to more onboard fuel storage. The increase, to 484 miles from 205 miles came after Toyota engineers installed new, larger hydrogen fuel tanks...The new tanks hold fuel that's pumped in at a higher pressure —for more density—than before...The range would make Toyota’s fuel-cell vehicle competitive with most conventional gasoline vehicles in terms of range between fueling stops.

Fuel cells, which convert hydrogen and oxygen to electricity that can be used to power traction motors for electric cars, are being developed by most major automakers as they search for pollution-free alternatives to today’s petroleum-burning cars and trucks. While production of hydrogen consumes energy and creates emissions at the fuel-making stage, the only tailpipe emission from fuel-cell motor vehicles is a dribble of distilled water.

Lack of a hydrogen fueling infrastructure, however, is likely to hold back widespread use of fuel-cell vehicles one the technology is refined for mass produced cars and trucks.