Toyota gets 350 miles out of fuel cell car

Tokyo's Toyota Motor (NYSE: TM), the world's largest automaker, said today its FCHV fuel cell car traveled 350 miles, from Osaka to Tokyo, on a single tank of hydrogen.

And the driver stayed cool the whole time. The company said the entire trip was completed with the air conditioner on.

Toyota said this latest version of its FCHV car is 25 percent more fuel efficient than earlier versions, citing improvements in its fuel cell and control system.

The car also features a 70 Mpa (maximum storage pressure) hydrogen tank capable of storing approximately twice the amount of hydrogen as the company's previous 35 Mpa tanks.

Most automakers have demonstration fuel cell vehicles in the works, but high cost and hydrogen storage methods, as well as a lack of supply infrastructure mean the cars are not likely to see widespread use anytime soon.

Toyota said it is actively working with the Japanese government, energy companies and other groups to bring the vehicles to market.

Yesterday, South Korea's Hyundai Motor said it plans to begin mass production of its fuel cell car in 2012 at the earliest.

No. 2 automaker General Motors, based in Detroit, also plans to have a fuel cell vehicle in the market by 2012.

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