Toyota Expanding Turbocharging In Lineup And Will Begin Adopting Aluminum Bodywork

Turbocharging and weight reduction are reasonable and expected steps for internal combustion engines.

My hope is that carbon fiber and other "miracle materials" become a lot cheaper. (Carbon fiber is stronger than steel, a lot lighter, much less dentable, never corrodes, but it's way more expensive because components are typically hand-made).

___

re Toyota is "investing heavily into hydrogen fuel cell technology" -- This is a colossally dumb move, intended by its proponents to slow the progress of EVs (the much more viable alternative, and therefore a thorn-in-the-side for Big Oil). Here are some fun facts:

1) It takes 3 to 4 times as much electricity to convert ambient hydrogen into hydrogen fuel -- only to use a fuel cell to convert hydrogen fuel back into electricity again -- as compared to using 1/4 to 1/3 the amount of electricity to charge EV batteries and go the same distance. Dumb!

2) Today, about 2/3 of North America's electricity comes from burning stuff (coal, natural gas, and less often, oil and even garbage). Dirty!

3) Hydrogen fuel costs about US$8 to US$9 per gallon. Pricey!

4) There are only about three dozen hydrogen filling stations in the entire US, with most of them in California. Impractical!

5) While it's conceivable that someone might elect to "get off the grid" (in full or in part), and power (or supplement) their EV using a combination of their own solar and wind-generated electricity, it's NOT conceivable that people will get into their own hydrogen fuel manufacturing, storage, and transfer. Consumers controlling or creating their own fuel is not where the current energy providers want you to be. That would hurt their profits, big time!

For now and in the foreseeable future, hydrogen-powered cars are a bad idea on an epic scale.

Hydrogen is pathetically stupid.

Agree that backing hydrogen is not a smart move. The extra cost over a BEV is unnecessary and adds little value.

Full disclosure: I have business interests in the compressed gas industry. Hydrogen is great in a lab in a controlled environment or for making bombs.

Would anyone here like to be in a serious accident with or in a car with a hydrogen fuel cell? Sure they may be able to withstand an initial impact but add exposure to fire for a prolonged period or a malfunctioning engine (like anything British made) and you have a serious "Paul Walker" liability on your hands. Yes this can happen with gas as well but Hydrogen is a exponentially more FUBARish.

The only thing worse than ethanol is Hydrogen...

Sounds like the past FUD about hybrid power trains and EVs.