There are currently five generations of the FCHV, beginning with preliminary prototypes FCHV-1 and FCHV-2. The FCHV-3 was presented at the "International Symposium on Fuel-Cell Vehicles" in March 2001 in Tokyo, and the FCHV-4 was the first production version, although Toyota did not plan a full-scale commercial hydrogenfuel cell vehicle launch until around 2015. As of 2008 the FCHV-adv was available for lease in Japan. The use of the vehicles by government ministries and companies is intended to provide detailed development feedback on the FCHV performance under varied driving conditions. In 2007 a FCHV was driven between Osaka and Tokyo on a single tank of hydrogen, proving that a hydrogen vehicle could compete with conventional vehicles for range. In August 2009, Toyota USA announced an estimated FCHV-adv range of from a tank of hydrogen, based on a test trip in "real-world" conditions between Torrance and San Diego, California.
FCHV system
The FCHV designs are based on the first generation Highlander SUV, although a bus version is also in development. The powertrain consists of a 90 kWfuel cell supplied from onboard compressed hydrogen tanks, and a nickel–metal hydride battery in parallel. Battery and fuel cell can provide power to the 90 kW driving motors either singly or together. The mechanism is very similar to the Hybrid Synergy Drive in the Toyota Prius and Toyota Auris HSD but with the fuel cell replacing the petrolinternal combustion engine, thus minimising greenhouse gas emissions at point of use. At low speeds the FCHV can run on battery alone, with a range of about. For high performance, such as when accelerating from rest, the fuel cell and battery supply power in tandem. The battery can also charge by regenerative braking, improving overall efficiency.
Hydrogen storage
The 700 Bar hydrogen tanks holds 156 liters - enough fuel for a range of on the Japanese 10-15 test cycle and on the Japanese JC08 test cycle. Test vehicles on the Japanese 10-15 test cycle average with a top speed of. Vehicles on the JC08 test cycle average and a top speed of.
Toyota started testing two Miraifuel cells in a converted Kenworth T680 electric Class 8semi-trailer truck in the Port of Los Angeles in April 2017 as part of 'Project Portal', doing drayage for Toyota. The truck has two motors for a combined and of torque, a 200 kW 12 kWh battery, and a fixed gear ratio of 15.5:1. It has a range of determined by the size of the hydrogen tanks. It accelerates from in 7 seconds. The motors are mainly powered by the fuel cells rather than from the small battery. Toyota added a terminal tractor to the project in 2019.
The FCHV is featured in the Jules Verne episode of the Science Channel program Prophets of Science Fiction. Some measure of credit is given to Jules Verne in the episode, for helping to inspire the idea.
