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!

Here is a wonderful vehicle from Honda! [U3-X]

The Honda U3-X is a self-balancing one-wheeled electric vehicle designed for personal transport. Honda used Ashimo's technology for this U3-X.  It weighs 10 kg (22 lb) and travels at 6 km/h (3.7 mph). It works in the direction of moving the center of gravity. This vehicle go to forward, backward, right and left. If you want to change the direction, you use your toe like a ski stick. If you want to stop, bring your weight back to center. So how much is this? It seems to become more than ¥ 500,000 (about USD 4,786) if Honda piles up the cost. In order to achieve the light weight, it has to use carbon for the structure such as racing cars and expensive lithium-ion battery.

If they replace carbon by aluminum and carbon, and the price of the battery becomes cheaper, the price is possible to be 100,000 yen. Honda does not have any plan to put this U3-X on the market now because of the high cost. Even if they can not put their product on the market, Honda have a great attitude to make such a wonderful vehicle like Asimo. I hope we can see it on the market in the near future.

Here is a demonstration movie of U3-X. You can see very smooth movement of U3-X. Do you want it? I want it!

Thank you!

How far can you drive by your car at one feed?

My car is 2005 Toyota Prius. It is made in Japan and very nice car. As you know, Prius has an electric motor. The electric motor starts first, and then a gasoline engine starts next when we need more power. As long as we drive by only the electric motor, we don't use gas. The battery charges when we press the brake pedal or from the gasoline engine.

In my case, I can drive about 700 km at one feed. The average fuel consumption is about 4.6 liters per 100 km (51.1 miles per gallon or 21.7 km per 1 liter). The current fuel consumption is 4.2 liters per 100 km (56.0 miles per gallon or 23.8 km per 1 liter). The average fuel consumption of the normal gasoline engine car is at under 8 litters per 100 km. 

So I can go approximately the double distance than the normal car at the same cost. Of course, the price of the cars are different but I just love the concept of Prius and the hybrid system. Please try to drive Prius if you have never driven Prius. You will love it.

Thank you so much.

HondaJet

The founder of Honda, Soichiro Honda was always dreaming to make the aircraft. Honda's genes began to study small sized business jets in the late 1980s. They went through a lot of difficulties, and then they succeed to make HondaJet. 

HondaJet has a unique design. They decided to go with an unusual over-the-wing podded engine configuration. It allows for more space in the cabin and reduces drag at high speeds and the noise, and increases fuel efficiency. 
In September 2012, they got the aircraft design award 2012 from The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

They are trying to make about 80 jets per year. The price is about $3.65 million US. We will be able to see this jet soon. I hope it can create a sensation in the aviation industry.

The Specifications

Performance
Maximum Cruise Speed @ FL300
420KTAS
Maximum Cruise Altitude
FL430
Rate of Climb
3990 ft / min
NBAA IFR Range (4 occupants)
1180 nm
Takeoff distance
<4000 ft
Landing distance
<3000 ft
Engines

Manufacturer / Model
GE Honda / HF120
Output (Uninstalled Thrust)
2050 lbf each 
derated from 2095 each
Bypass ratio
2.9

External Dimensions
Height
14.90 ft [4.54 m]
Wing Span
39.76 ft [12.12m]
Length
42.62 ft [12.99m]

Interior Cabin Dimensions
Height
4.80 ft [1.46 m]
Length
17.80 ft [5.43 m]
Width
5.00 ft [1.52 m]

External Baggage Space
Total
66 cubic ft
Within aft section
57 cubic ft
Within nose section
9 cubic ft
Configuration

Typical configuration
1 crew + 5 pax (2 crew + 4 pax)
Alternative configuration

1 crew + 6 pax (2 crew + 5 pax)

Thank you so much.