Tokyo Motor Show Opens & Features Environmental Technologies

The 37th Tokyo Motor Show opened on October 22, 2003 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba City, Japan, with the participation of about 270 exhibitors from 14 countries. The annual show featured a number of environmentally friendly vehicles this year, including fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) powered by the chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, and hybrid vehicles, which combine an electric motor with a gasoline engine.

Toyota Motor Corp. has unveiled a fuel cell model that travels twice as far per charge as existing FCVs. Honda Motor Co. is exhibiting a compact hybrid vehicle that runs more than 40 kilometers per liter, the highest fuel efficiency in the world. Nissan Motor Co., Mitsubishi Motors Corp., and Suzuki Motor Corp. are also showcasing their latest-model FCVs. Mazda Motor Corp. is exhibiting a hydrogen rotary vehicle fueled by hydrogen.

During the show, several environment-conscious models, including FCVs, are available for Clean Energy Vehicle Test Rides. This special event is made possible by the participation of eight auto manufacturers: Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Daihatsu, Subaru, Daimler-Chrysler, Hino and Mitsubishi-Fuso. A total of 12 vehicles are available, including fuel cell, hybrid and compressed natural gas (CNG) models, for test rides as a passenger. The vehicles go around an approximately 500-meter course set up within the Makuhari Seaside Park, adjacent to Makuhari Messe.

http://www.tokyo-motorshow.com/show/2003/eng/PUBLIC/index.html

Posted: 2003/12/22 10:27:35 AM
Japanese version