TOYOTA announced they will start to sell FCV (Fuel Cell Vehicle) in 2015

This picture is from TOYOTA's website

TOYOTA announced today for FCV in Japan. 

This picture is from TOYOTA's website

The car will launch in Japan before April 2015, and preparations are underway for launches in the U.S. and European markets in the summer of 2015. After one year later from today. The price will be around 7,000,000 yen (about 68,800 USD).

This picture is from TOYOTA's website
Executive Vice-President of TOYOTA: Mr. Mitsuhisa Kato

"After the 20th century, we want to consume large amounts of fossil fuel because of increase of motor vehicles by the global development of industry and technology. But air pollution is increasing and we have anxiety about the future of oil, increased emissions of CO2 (global warming). The global crude supply is increasing yearly.

And the traffic demand growth along with the growth of the economy, the environmental issues will continue to get more acute by rapid population growth."

So, TOYOTA is making eco-friendly car like Prius (HV) and trying to use a next generation energy which makes a sustainable mobility society. Their Hybrid technology can apply to EV, PHV and this FCV. 

They are thinking the electricity and hydrogen will be a good energy for the sustainable mobility society in the future.

"Hydrogen has higher energy density than electricity, can be produced using sustainable energy sources such as solar and wind power, and is easily stored, making it an important fuel source for the future. That’s why Toyota has positioned fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), which are fueled by hydrogen, as promising eco-cars for the future. 

It is a vehicle equipped with a “Fuel Cell” that generates electricity through the chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to power the motor driving the vehicle. Hydrogen, which replaces gasoline as fuel, is an environment-friendly energy source that can be produced from various raw materials.
Toyota has also made use of hybrid vehicle core technology in the development of this vehicle."

"We believe hydrogen will be a leading energy source in the future." 

Hydrogen has been used for over 200 years for gas lamps at urban areas, utility gas in homes, fertilizer and oil refining in manufacturing and as an automotive fuel. TOYOTA has started to make FCV since 1992.

The high cruising range (700 km) is less than Prius because normally I can drive about 860 km by my Prius. 

2014/6/26. It is about 21.28 km/l

But how much is hydrogen? If hydrogen is cheaper than gasoline, FCV is considered of value. Still there are some problems but the CO2 emissions during driving is zero. FCVs are ideal eco-cars. They decided to make FCVs so the goverments will support the infrastructure development. It should be OK.

I hope I can see and try to drive this FCV in 2015.

Thank you!

[STAP Cell] Ms.Obogata agreed to dismiss the papers

There are 2 papers regarding STAP cell from Ms. Obogata's team, "Letter" and "Article". And they decided to dissmiss "Letter" today.

A professor of Harvard University, Dr. Charls Vacanti is opposed to dismiss the paper until now. But he said to Ms. Obogata, "To dismiss the paper also whether it is another way." 

Their lawyer, Mr. Miki Hideo said, "She lost her mental stability. She can not have precise understanding of this situation right now. She decided to dismiss the papers because she had no other choice." 

But she still has a belief in the existence of STAP cell. She said, "Even if we dismiss the paper, the fact is not going away." She hopes to join the verification experiment of STAP cells by RIKEN. "There is no choice but to respond in order to join the experiment."

The papers will be the blank sheet of papers. But her challenge is not over yet. I am still hoping the existence of STAP cell too.

Thank you!