Toronto, Ontario — In this electric and autonomous vehicle report, Toyota unveils a swappable hydrogen fuel cell battery system for future zero-emission vehicles; while autonomous technology expert Henry Liu recommends driving tests for self-driving vehicles in the United States.
Hydrogen for home
Last Thursday, at the Japan Mobility Show Bizweek 2024, Toyota unveiled a portable hydrogen cartridge that could be swapped between vehicles.
The cartridges, which look like large AA batteries—or perhaps Bluetooth speakers—function much like replacing the batteries in a remote-controlled car.
The capsules are designed to be swapped out of the vehicle when the power in the cartridges runs dry. Toyota further noted that it reduced “the size and weight of the hydrogen tanks, which were previously large and difficult to carry, to a size that can be carried by hand.”
Toyota also cited the potential of the cartridges to power homes and to be used as a general fuel source.
While more automakers are currently putting time and attention into developing electric vehicles, “Toyota aims to find matches with the technologies and ideas of various companies and startups from a variety of perspectives, including both providing services and developing and selling devices using portable hydrogen cartridges. In doing so, Toyota will further strengthen its efforts to use portable hydrogen cartridges and help create a hydrogen society,” said the company in a press release.
Autonomous appraisal
A leading autonomous vehicle expert in the United States is calling on the federal government to develop a national driver’s test that autonomous vehicles would have to pass before travelling on public roads.
Specifically, Henry Liu, who leads the University of Michigan’s autonomous vehicle testing centre commented to ABC News that “such a regulation would set minimum standards to ensure that the vehicle displays basic skills and competence in traffic situations where their manufacturers want to use them.”
“The federal government,” Liu continued, “has the responsibility to help set the minimum standard to help guide in terms of safety testing.”
Liu suggested that a driver’s test should be able to determine whether a self-driving vehicle can make a left turn at an intersection without the protection of a traffic light with a green arrow. According to ABC News, he said these measures would also help ensure that the vehicle will halt at a stop sign and detect and yield to a small pedestrian crossing a road.
Europe and China, Liu further noted, already have basic tests that put autonomous vehicles through third-party testing. But, the United States has continued to rely on self-certification by manufacturers.
