Toyota Motor Corp is set to unveil a fuel-cell concept car that aims to offer 50% more driving range than its current hydrogen-powered sedan in a technology push that defies a rising wave of battery-driven vehicles.<\/p>\n
Japan\u2019s biggest auto manufacturer is targeting a 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) range for the Fine-Comfort Ride concept under local standards, compared with about 650 kilometers for the current Mirai fuel-cell vehicle, according to a statement Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The concept car, to be introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show next week, will include artificial intelligence and automated driving features.<\/p>\n
Toyota is continuing to champion fuel-cell vehicles as the ultimate zero-emission cars, even as the falling cost of lithium-ion batteries has lured a majority of automakers to plug-in technology in the face of ever more stringent environmental standards worldwide.<\/p>\n
China, the world\u2019s largest market, said last month that it was working on a timeline to end the sale of internal-combustion vehicles, joining countries including France, India and the UK<\/p>\n
While Japan has created a Hydrogen Society Roadmap to increase the number of fuel-cell vehicles on its roads to 40,000 by 2020, there are currently just 2,200 or so.<\/p>\n
Bloomberg New Energy Finance estimates the government will only achieve 60% of its target.<\/p>\n