Toyota Plans ‘Limited’ Consumer Sales of Fuel-Cell Cars by 2015

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http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aKdSR3OInOa8&refer=home

an. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Toyota Motor Corp., hedging its bets on autos powered by alternatives to gasoline, plans to sell hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles to consumers by 2015.

“Limited commercialization begins in 2015 and maybe sooner,” spokesman John Hanson said in an interview today, citing comments by Executive Vice President Masatami Takimoto at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The exact timing, sales volume and price haven’t been decided, Hanson said.

Hydrogen models would add to the company’s technologies to reduce fuel use and pollutant emissions. Toyota, the largest seller of gasoline-electric hybrids, this year plans to lease plug-in Prius hatchbacks that go at least 10 miles solely on electricity and sell all-electric minicars in 2012.

Hydrogen-powered autos would require new fueling systems and stations, are costly to build and don’t match the driving range and durability of conventional vehicles.

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