Toyota Motors announced today the results of a recent collaborative fuel cell hybrid vehicle range and fuel economy field evaluation.

The Toyota Highlander Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle – Advanced (FCHV-adv) – achieved an estimated range of 431 miles on a single full tank of compressed hydrogen gas, and an average fuel economy of 68.3 miles/kg (approximate mpg equivalent) during a day-long trip down the scenic southern California coast.

By comparison, the 2009 Toyota Highland Hybrid achieves an EPA-estimated rating of 26 mpg combined fuel economy and has a full-tank range of approximately 450 miles.  With premium gas currently priced at about $3.25, the gasoline-powered V6 Highlander hybrid travels approximately 26 miles at a cost of about $3.25.  The DOE, (Department of Energy), targets future hydrogen pricing at $2 to $3 per kilogram which would enable the FCHV-adv to travel approximately 68 miles at a projected cost of about $2.50, or more than double the range of the Highlander Hybrid — at equal or lesser cost, while producing zero emissions.

Toyota plans call for the commercial introduction of a reliable and durable fuel cell vehicle with exceptional fuel economy and zero emissions in 2015.

Now if someone were working on building hydrogen fueling station infrastructure, this would be much more meaningful.  source: prnewswire.com