Fuel Cell Carmakers Optimistic, Despite Toyota Recall
- 14 years ago
88-thousand visitors attended the International Fuel Cell Expo that took place in Tokyo on Wednesday. Fuel cell carmakers showed off the newest improvements on designs and cars of the future.
Fuel cells are seen as one major way to a greener alternative without any oil, and no CO2 emissions.
Fuel cell cars are more expensive and few in number compared to their gasoline counterparts.
[Satoshi Kawasaki, Japan Automobile Research Institute]:
“We announced yesterday that by 2025 we hope to have 1,000 Hydrogen fuelling stations and 2 million fuel cell vehicles on the road.”
Casting a shadow over the increasingly complex and computer-based cars was the recent recall of Toyota's Prius hybrid, a symbol of Toyota's clean energy drive.
Despite Toyota’s recall, Japanese carmakers are confident they will produce cars in a safe manner.
[Satoshi Kawasaki, Japan Automobile Research Institute]:
"Compared to gasoline vehicles, the number of electronic parts has increased, and has become an incredibly complex system. However, Japanese carmakers are confident that they will be able to add electronic components and still produce cars in a safe manner."
People who had a chance to ride in the fuel cell cars said they weren't worried about the electronic parts glitches so much.
[Hideaki Ayabe, Participant]:
“I don't really think that's there's an (electronic parts)problem. More than that, I would say that the dangers of using hydrogen is more of a problem.”
[Yutaka Nakamura, Oil Importer]:
“As it's a machine, I'm a bit uneasy in some ways. If you're on the highway going 100 kilometers per hour, it's a major problem if something happens.”
Fuel cell vehicles are believed to offer a longer range refuelable alternative to electric vehicles which are currently limited to short-range driving.
Fuel cells are seen as one major way to a greener alternative without any oil, and no CO2 emissions.
Fuel cell cars are more expensive and few in number compared to their gasoline counterparts.
[Satoshi Kawasaki, Japan Automobile Research Institute]:
“We announced yesterday that by 2025 we hope to have 1,000 Hydrogen fuelling stations and 2 million fuel cell vehicles on the road.”
Casting a shadow over the increasingly complex and computer-based cars was the recent recall of Toyota's Prius hybrid, a symbol of Toyota's clean energy drive.
Despite Toyota’s recall, Japanese carmakers are confident they will produce cars in a safe manner.
[Satoshi Kawasaki, Japan Automobile Research Institute]:
"Compared to gasoline vehicles, the number of electronic parts has increased, and has become an incredibly complex system. However, Japanese carmakers are confident that they will be able to add electronic components and still produce cars in a safe manner."
People who had a chance to ride in the fuel cell cars said they weren't worried about the electronic parts glitches so much.
[Hideaki Ayabe, Participant]:
“I don't really think that's there's an (electronic parts)problem. More than that, I would say that the dangers of using hydrogen is more of a problem.”
[Yutaka Nakamura, Oil Importer]:
“As it's a machine, I'm a bit uneasy in some ways. If you're on the highway going 100 kilometers per hour, it's a major problem if something happens.”
Fuel cell vehicles are believed to offer a longer range refuelable alternative to electric vehicles which are currently limited to short-range driving.