The release of the FINE-S came on the heels of the delivery of the first Toyota market-ready zero-emission-certified hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in Japan and the U.S. In December of last year, Toyota leased its FCHV to the Japanese government in Tokyo and to the University of California (both the Irvine and Davis campuses). Unfortunately, the automaker suffered a setback in May 2003, when it decided to recall all six of the hydrogen powered vehicles after it found a leak in the fuel tank of one of the cars. It is expected that these cars will be returned after investigating and fixing the problem.
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| With all their field-testing, by the time a viable hydrogen infrastructure is developed Toyota will be a leader in the field. (Photo: Toyota) |
But isn't that exactly why Toyota put prototype vehicles out into the field for day to day testing and trials, so that by the time a viable hydrogen infrastructure comes into place the brand can compete, and perhaps lead in the race for the most reliable, and resultant best selling fuel cell vehicle.
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| Toyota was listed as the only company with reduced fleet average greenhouse gas emissions from model year 2000 to 2001. (Photo: Toyota) |
Others are taking notice of Toyota's aggressive stance in environmental performance. Last December, the Union of Concerned Scientists in the United States published a report titled, Automotive Rankings: The Environmental Performance of Car Companies. It analyzes emissions and fuel economy of the Big Six automakers in the U.S. market. Among the statistics released, Toyota was listed as the only company with reduced fleet average greenhouse gas emissions from model year 2000 to 2001. Toyotas 2001 vehicles were 20 percent below average in smog-forming emissions, and 10 percent under in greenhouse gases. While I don't have the 2002 statistics at my fingertips, I wouldn't be surprised if those numbers were improved.