Brussels,
22
November
2011
|
00:00
Europe/Amsterdam

Toyota to demonstrate Fuel Cell Hybrid vehicle at European Drive 'n Ride event

Toyota will be one of the leading participants in the fourth edition of the Drive 'n Ride event to take place in Brussels on November 22 and 23. The event aims to demonstrate how zero-emission technologies, such as hydrogen fuel cells, can tackle reduction in transport emissions – one of European Commission's two environmental priorities for 2012. This two day campaign will highlight the readiness of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles for market breakthrough and the need for infrastructure build-up with the first-ever mobile hydrogen re-fuelling demonstration in Brussels.

Toyota believes that hydrogen fuel cell technology plays an important part in the company's multi-path approach to developing the "ultimate eco-car" which offers a sustainable solution to the issues of energy supply and transport emissions (1). In Germany, Toyota is already heavily involved in the Clean Energy Partnership to develop customer acceptance of fuel cell vehicles, while testing and further developing the technology.

Furthermore, during the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota will display the FCV-R (Fuel Cell Vehicle - Reality & Revolution), a new sedan-type vehicle concept fuelled by hydrogen. This concept model represents the next step towards the commercial launch of a Toyota hydrogen fuel cell vehicle by 2015.

During the Drive 'n Ride event, more than 100 European Union officials, Members of European Parliament and other high-level stakeholders will have the opportunity to experience the reality of clean technology by driving or riding in several fuel cell vehicles, including Toyota's latest fuel cell prototype, the FCHV-adv (Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle-advanced). In addition, for the first time in Brussels, a fully mobile and compact hydrogen station will demonstrate the refuelling process.

For the past four years, the Drive 'n Ride campaign has been visibly promoting hydrogen fuel cell vehicles throughout Brussels and raising awareness to the challenges remaining for the full commercialisation and build-up of hydrogen infrastructure in Europe.

At this year's edition of Drive 'n Ride, Daimler, Honda, Intelligent Energy, Linde, Opel and Toyota will join forces to offer an exclusive 30-minute test-drive to demonstrate the comfort of clean driving, environmental benefits of hydrogen fuel cell technology as well as their full performance in terms of driving range, refuelling time and vehicle size.

For more information about the Drive 'n Ride, please visit: http://www.eurocalendar.eu/november/786-drive-n-ride-2011

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Notes to the editors: 

(1) More detailed information about Toyota's approach towards developing the ultimate eco-car can be found in the "Toyota and the Environment" brochure (direct link: http://bit.ly/ohW7Sb) and "Toyota European Sustainability Report 2011" (direct link: http://www.toyota.eu/sustainability/).

About Toyota FCHV-adv (Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle-advanced):

Toyota developed the first FCHV in 2002. The current FCHV-adv can achieve an estimated New European Driving Cycle range of 650 kilometres and can operate in temperatures as low as -30°C.