By Damien Reid

The development of Toyota's hydrogen technology has moved beyond the laboratory and out onto the streets with the Japanese manufacturer leasing 20 road-registered Kluger four-wheel drives to interested technology related companies, institutional organisations and research facilities.

Such has been the success of its hydrogen fuel cell hybrid technology in Japan and the United States, that Toyota has fast-tracked its development program and expects to have the vehicles on the road before the end of the year.

The water-sipping Kluger will be a newly developed prototype based on the company's first FCHV-4 concept but will include conventional vehicle-like performance as well as improved reliability, cruising distance and overall functionality.

Although the vehicles will look like your conventional Toyota four-wheel drive, they are still prototypes and will be tested for costs, cold temperature performance and other issues which is why Toyota is leasing them only to select areas of the private sector.

Its plans are to lease 20 units in the first year to entities which have access to hydrogen-supply infrastructure and after-sales service.

Like the Prius which is on sale here, the concept revolves around an electric motor supplying power to assist a "conventional" engine which in this case is a hydrogen unit instead of the petrol motor used in the Prius.

Toyota began testing the FCHV-4 on public roads in Japan in June 2001 and the United States a month later covering more than 110,000 kilometres on public roads as well as on the company's proving grounds and test tracks, providing valuable insight toward the commercialisation of the technology.

Toyota claims society's acceptance of the new technology as well as its "expectations for cleaner mobility solutions" is the main reason behind the early introduction of the cars to market.

Expected to heighten consumer acceptance of hydrogen as a fuel in Japan and North America, Toyota's marketing of the FCHV technology will be a strong force for the establishment of standards and infrastructure required for the full-scale commercialisation of fuel cell-powered vehicles.