October 2004

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It’s not exactly a surprise to people in the business, but a top Toyota executive once more confirms that fuel cell vehicles aren’t around the corner just yet. Speaking at a September 10 information meeting for analysts in New York, Akihiko Saito, Toyota’s executive vice president for research and development, said that the timing for public introduction has been postponed “bit by bit” over the years because it has become “quite clear, recognized by everybody, that it is extremely difficult to develop a fuel cell.” Reciting the well-known litany of obstacles - low-temperature performance, on-board hydrogen storage, limited range, reliability, cost, and infrastructure - Saito said 2010 looks like a likely date of when fuel cell vehicles will be common but, “of course, this depends on the degree of usage” i.e., market share. Fuel cell vehicles “definitely” will be part of the market mix after 2020, he added, but “generally, we cite 2010 for widespread use.”