Fuel-cell-powered vehicles use a system that extracts hydrogen from methanol and generates electricity by mixing it with oxygen in the fuel cell. It is referred to as "the ultimate eco-friendly vehicle" because it does not emit carbon dioxide (CO2).

Due to its attractive qualities the top carmakers of Japan and the United States quickly joined hands to make progress in this advanced technology. However, after seven years of collaboration, the two automotive giants decided to discontinue the joint study.

Toyota's new strategy with Fuji Heavy Industries

In terms of environmental protection, sales of hybrid cars using gasoline engines and electric motors are a step ahead.

On March 13, Toyota and Fuji Heavy Industries held a joint press conference on their business partnership.

On that occasion, Toyota's President Katsuaki Watanabe said, "We will bring about an early realization of Fuji's hybrid vehicles through Toyota's technical assistance," and plans to further expedite the spread of hybrid cars.

As Toyota continues with its rapid advance, fuel cells in environment-friendly automobiles are beginning to become more inconspicuous. With the halt of the Toyota-GM joint research program, many have said that the fuel-cell car research boom has reached an end.

Fuel-cell cars more efficient than hybrids

But a closer look into the trends of fuel cells shows that various research and development programs are making steady progress.

A typical example is the test result of energy-savings performance announced on March 6 as part of the hydrogen fuel-cell tie-up project of JHFC, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and major automakers to implement road tests on fuel-cell cars.

The test clarified that fuel-cell cars are more efficient in energy-saving capacities than gasoline hybrid cars that are becoming quite popular.

The energy-savings capacity of fuel-cell cars is calculated by multiplying the "fuel efficiency" (from the time petroleum is extracted until it is finished into fuel) by "vehicle efficiency" (energy efficiency in road performance). Because carbon dioxide is emitted in the process of turning out hydrogen, considerations of fuel efficiency are vitally important.

In the latest experiment, JFFC actually drove the vehicle and proved that the overall efficiency of fuel-cell cars is about 10% greater than that of hybrid cars, calculated on the basis of operational data obtained from the hydrogen station.

In actuality, Toyota, which is the leading carmaker in the development of fuel-cell cars, fundamentally differs from GM in its interpretation of efficiency.

Toyota has persisted in maintaining data showing that "hybrid cars are superior to fuel-cell cars in overall efficiency." The Japanese automaker asserts that it will take some time before fuel-cell cars outperform hybrid models.

General Motors, on the other hand, insists it has ample data to believe that "by 2010, fuel-cell vehicles will be more efficient than hybrid cars in the U.S. and Europe," and persists in that view. Stella Papasavva, Senior Research Engineer at GM's Chemical & Environmental Sciences Lab, said, "Even at this point, fuel-cell cars are likely to be more efficient."

Thus, it may be safely stated that the discontinuation of the joint research program reflects the "philosophical" differences between Toyota, which attaches greater importance to realism, and General Motors, which insists on the viability of fuel cells.

In fact, Director George Hansen, in charge of the Asia-Pacific Region of GM's fuel-cell business headquarters, said, "the research program has advanced to a point where it is already at the stage of a development race."

But Toyota is not sitting still. In JHFC tests, "Toyota cars have shown very good results" according to an informed source. Moreover, under the company's revved-up policy, its research and development projects are progressing at a steady pace.

The development of fuel-cell cars has passed beyond the initial stage of anticipation and entered into a phase of a realistic efficiency race, and the automaker's future course has become increasingly clear.