Leading the way

Fuel-cell vehicles from Toyota and Honda are hitting the streets for customer use in both Japan and the U.S.

Toyota and Honda put their fuel-cell passenger vehicles “on sale” December 2 in Japan and the U.S. More precisely, their lease rates have been officially quoted, but the whole vehicles have not been “priced.” Chairman Hiroshi Okuda of Toyota Motor Corp. and President Hiroyuki Yoshino of Honda Motor Co. delivered to the Cabinet Office of Japan their first fuel-cell vehicles, which were duly received by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. It was an amicable scene, occurring in one of the fiercest technological battles in the history of the Japanese automobile industry.

Toyota also delivered three more of its FCHVs (Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicles) to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport; the Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Trade; and the Ministry of the Environment. Honda will follow suit, delivering its FCX vehicles to these ministries. Quoted lease charges in Japan are 1.2 million yen (about $10,000) per month for a 30-month lease from Toyota, and 800,000 yen ($6700) per month on a similar term from Honda. Both are inclusive of maintenance, service, and support charges.