Toyota Motor Corporation in association with Japan Fine Ceramics Centre (JFCC) have come up with a unique and innovative way to study the nanometer-sized platinum particles and how they degenerate. Since platinum is an important component of hydrogen fuel cell technology and is very expensive, this breakthrough will be of immense help to the automakers.
The new technology will aid Toyota to observe the fuel catalyst degradation in real-time and develop more effective and durable fuel cell stacks.
The Toyota Mirai, which was revealed at the Los Angeles Auto Show last year, is one of the first vehicles to be equipped with the hydrogen-fuel cell technology and the automaker is planning to make it commercially available in California this fall. The Mirai will carry a price tag of $57,500.
Other automakers have also revealed plans for hydrogen fuel vehicles which include the Chevrolet Sequel by GM and the FCX Clarity sedan by Honda, however due to high cost and availability of hydrogen fuel cells, the automakers have to put up a huge initial investment.