Luxury brands place fuel cell bets: Lexus unveils concept; BMW plans vehicle in '20 developed with Toyota

摘要

TOKYO - Luxury automakers fortified their stance on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles at the Tokyo Motor Show, with Lexus unveiling a dramatic fuel cell concept and BMW AG disclosing that it will launch a vehicle in 2020 developed in conjunction with Toyota Motor Corp. The auto industry continues to wrestle with the viability of fuel cell vehicles. Because they emit only water, the vehicles are immensely attractive in an era of increasingly strict carbon dioxide emissions regulations. Yet the hurdles are significant: limited hydrogen-fueling infrastructure in Europe, Japan and the U.S.; small-scale production volumes that limit economies of scale; and steep costs.