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Fuel Cell Initiative Will Spur Development, Toyota Executive Says



    WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- The fuel cell initiative announced by
President Bush in his State of the Union address will expedite the development
of fuel cell technologies and supporting infrastructure, a Toyota executive
said today in a ceremony at the National Building Museum in Washington D.C.
    "Bringing together the global leaders in automotive fuel cell technology
will help speed development and harmonize issues such as fuels and
infrastructure," said Jim Press, executive vice president and COO of Toyota
Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.  "This is an important step on the long road to
bringing fuel cell vehicles to mass market."
    Press reviewed Toyota's fuel cell hybrid vehicle (FCHV) with President
Bush today -- giving him a glimpse into the future generation of automobiles.
Press also thanked the President for acknowledging the role of international
automakers in the development of this important technology.
    Toyota has been working on its own 100-percent proprietary fuel cell
program since 1992.  Last December it delivered two market-ready Toyota FCHV
hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles, one each to the University of California,
Irvine (UCI) and the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), in an
initiative designed to establish a fuel cell "community" partnering
government, business and higher education to help develop products and
infrastructure and consumer acceptance.  Toyota is also a member of the
California Fuel Cell Partnership.
    "A common infrastructure support system is important for fuel cell
technology to reach its fruition," Press said.  "Toyota is committed to
working with other members of the global auto industry to reach this goal."
    Part of the program with UCI and UC Davis includes the development of six
hydrogen re-fueling stations.  In addition to the schools, Toyota is working
with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and South Coast Air Quality
Management Board (SCAQMD), along with corporations such as Stuart Energy and
Air Products, to have the stations up-and-running by mid-2003.  One hydrogen
station is already in place at Toyota's national headquarters in Torrance,
Calif.
    The Toyota FCHV is based on the popular Toyota Highlander, a
five-passenger, mid-size sport utility vehicle.  The fuel cell stack was
developed and built in-house solely by Toyota.
    The FCHV's fuel cell system features four 5,000-psi hydrogen fuel tanks.
The hydrogen gas is fed into the fuel cell stack where it is combined with
oxygen.  The electricity produced by the chemical reaction is used to power
the 109-hp electric motor and to charge the vehicle's nickel-metal hydride,
which feeds power-on-demand to the electric motor.  It has a range of up to
180 miles and a top speed of 96 miles per hour.  The only by-product is water
vapor and the FCHV has been certified as a zero emissions vehicle by CARB.