LEADIN:

Toyota gave the automotive industry a hydrogen-powered kick at the International CES event in Las Vegas.

The Japanese car manufacturers announced they're set to make available thousands of hydrogen fuel cell patents royalty-free, in a bid to encourage the industry.

Toyota's new sporty-looking hydrogen-powered 'Mirai' is the backdrop for the Japanese auto makers press event at the International CES in Las Vegas.

Bob Carter, who is Senior Vice President of automotive operations at Toyota, explains the mechanics of the vehicle.

"The Toyota Mirai is a mid-sized, four-door sedan - its front wheels are driven by electric motors. The electricity that powers the motors is made on-board, on-demand, as needed by simply combining hydrogen with oxygen, producing zero emissions, other than water vapour."

In the middle of his speech - a moment of drama as the power cut.

"I got you covered," assured Carter, as he connected a wire from the Mirai to re-boot the power in the briefing room and light up a mock-up home on stage.

"This Mirai is capable of supplying enough energy to power your home essentials as well as all of your consumer electronics in an average home for up to a week, in the event of an emergency," explains Carter.

But the high-profile event wasn't about announcing a new vehicle or component, but about giving something away.

In a bid to encourage the hydrogen auto industry to flourish, Carter announced that Toyota is set to invite royalty-free use of approximately 5,680 fuel cell related patents.

That includes critical technologies developed for the new 'Mirai' - which means "the future" in Japanese.

The list includes approximately 1,970 patents related to fuel cell stacks, 290 associated with high-pressure hydrogen tanks, 3,350 related to fuel cell systems' software control and 70 patents related to hydrogen production and supply.

By releasing these patents, Toyota are hoping to encourage the industry to flourish.

"It's obvious that there can be a higher societal value in openly sharing our IP," says Carter.

"By eliminating the traditional corporate boundaries, we can speed the metabolism of everyone's research and development and move into a future of mobility, quicker, more effectively and more economically."

The Toyota executive ended his speech with a quote from former President Abraham Lincoln.

"'The best way to predict the future, is to create it'. And that's what we're doing at Toyota."

Toyota unveiled the 'Mirai' - their first ever hydrogen-powered vehicle - at a press event in Tokyo in November.

The success of the vehicle and other hydrogen cars depends on an infrastructure growing to encourage drivers to buy them.

Other Asian automakers, Honda and Hyundai, are also experimenting with limited sales and leases of fuel cell cars.

Automotive tech is set to be a big talking point at this year's International CES event in Las Vegas.

A variety of self-driving cars and integrated dashboards will demonstrate how seriously the car industry considers putting smart tech into their vehicles.

A record 10 automotive manufacturers are set to exhibit at the event including Toyota, Ford, BMW, Audi and Mercedes.

Automotive exhibits will cover over 165,000 square feet of event space, 17 percent more than last year.

The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) will run 6-9 January 2015.

The annual technology event is set to showcase over 3,500 exhibitors including big tech companies like Sony, Samsung and LG.

AP Television

Las Vegas, US - 5 January 2015

1. Various of hydrogen-powered Toyota 'Mirai' vehicle

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Bob Carter, Senior Vice President, Toyota Motor Sales, Automotive Operations:

"'The future' is what the 'Mirai' means in Japanese, and it's arriving in October this year in the US. The Toyota Mirai is a mid-sized, four-door sedan - its front wheels are driven by electric motors. The electricity that powers the motors is made on-board, on-demand, as needed by simply combining hydrogen with oxygen, producing zero emissions, other than water vapour. Unlike other electric cars that rely on large batteries for power, this Mirai can be re-fuelled, as the doctor (Michio Kaku) said, in three to five minutes and travels up about 300 miles on a single fill-up. It will start up in the morning at minus 30 degrees Centigrade, below zero, and as many of you have already heard...(power cuts out) Wait just a moment, this happened in rehearsal - I got you covered (connects vehicle to power 'home' on stage). Now, as I was saying, as many of you already know - this Mirai is capable of supplying enough energy to power your home essentials as well as all of your consumer electronics in an average home for up to a week, in the event of an emergency."

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Bob Carter, Senior Vice President, Toyota Motor Sales, Automotive Operations:

"Traditionally, intellectual properties are fiercely guarded, because they have great monetary value. But with programmes like the CSRC (Collaborative Safety Research Centre) Steve and our patent announcements today - it's obvious that there can be a higher societal value in openly sharing our IP. By eliminating the traditional corporate boundaries, we can speed the metabolism of everyone's research and development and move into a future of mobility, quicker, more effectively and more economically. Indeed, I believe that today marks a turning point in automotive history. I'm going to close with a quote that captures the idea from President Abraham Lincoln, who said: 'The best way to predict the future, is to create it'. And that's what we're doing at Toyota."

4. Close of screen reading: "Toyota. #ToyotaMirai"

5. Wide of Carter on stage, UPSOUND: (English) "Please accept my thanks for all of you coming and I hope you enjoy CES tomorrow. Good afternoon"; applause

There will only be a few hundred, and they won't be cheap, but Toyota is about to take its first small step into the unproven market for emissions-free, hydrogen-powered vehicles.

The world's largest automaker announced Tuesday that it will begin selling fuel cell cars in Japan on December 15, and in the US and Europe in mid-2015.

The sporty-looking, four-door Toyota Mirai will retail for 6,700,000 yen (57,600 US dollars) before taxes.

Toyota Motor Corp hopes to sell 400 in Japan and 300 in the rest of the world in the first year.

Fuel cell vehicles run on compressed hydrogen gas, which in the Mirai's case is stored in two tanks mounted underneath the vehicle.

They emit no exhaust, though fossil fuels are used in the production of hydrogen and to pressurise it. Both Honda and Hyundai have or are also experimenting with limited sales and leases of fuel cell cars.

Besides the relatively high cost, buyers will have to contend with finding fuel.

Only a few dozen hydrogen filling stations have been built worldwide, though governments are subsidising the construction of more.

It's an uncertain future that depends both on whether makers can bring down the price, and a wide-enough network of filling stations is built.

Sales will be limited to the primarily urban areas that have stations.

In Japan, with about 30 stations, that means the regions around Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya cities in central and western Japan and the northern part of Kyushu island in the south.

A few stations have opened in California in the United States, and there are plans to build some in the Northeast. Germany and the United Kingdom are among European countries that have or plan to build them.

The first buyers are expected to be affluent people who are environmental aware, and governments and companies that want to go green.

The Mirai can travel 650 to 700 kilometers (400-435 miles) on its two tanks of hydrogen.

Hydrogen may be more expensive than gas initially, because there are so few customers but, over time, Toyota expects it will be cheaper to run a car on hydrogen than with gas.vehicles a year.

The company's Executive Vice President Mitsuhisa Kato said he was confident "its innovation will surpass the Prius."

Both Honda and Hyundai have or are also experimenting with limited sales and leases of fuel cell cars.

AP TELEVISION

Tokyo - 18 November 2014

1. Toyota's hydrogen-powered car - "Mirai" appearing on stage

2. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Yoshikazu Tanaka, Toyota Motor Deputy Chief Engineer:

"It is a car of the next century, a car that leads to making a society use hydrogen energy. To realise this concept, we have put in all our advanced technology into the development. As a result, we believe we developed a car that is not only good for the environment, but it is also a vehicle that is fun, quiet, pleasurable and comfortable to drive."

3. Various of Toyota Mirai driving along streets

4. Toyota Motor Executive Vice President Mitsuhisa Kato on stage

5. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Mitsuhisa Kato, Toyota Motor Executive Vice President:

"The FCV (fuel cell vehicle) - if hydrogen energy is once accepted, it will make a great difference in the society. I believe its innovation will surpass the Prius."

6. Logo on car reading (English): "Fuel Cell"

7. Various set up shots of Hans Greimel, auto analyst at Toyota's press conference venue

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Hans Greimel, Asia Editor of Automotive News:

"Well, they often say that the hydrogen fuel cell car is is kind of like the car of the future. But now we finally see the future gradually creeping closer. There hasn't been a lot of effort yet to really make a marketable retail-ready fuel cell car. But here we see Toyota taking a step in that direction where putting of a retail price on a car, which is something that's a little bit new. We're also putting volumes on a car, sales volumes on a car, that's also kind of a new direction. So we're seeing that the fuel cell, hydrogen-powered cars are becoming more of a... creeping closer to reality."

9. Various of exhibited Mirai with open bonnet

10. Fuel Cell logo

Japanese/English

Toyota has introduced the first car that uses a hybrid of petrol and electricity for power.

The Prius (pron: PREEH-us) four-door small sedan will sell only in Japan and will cost 2.15 million Japanese yen or 17-thousand-700 U-S dollars.

Toyota claims the car emits only half the carbon dioxide of a similar gasoline-powered vehicle and cuts other tailpipe emissions by about 90 percent.

It comes less than 24 hours after the Japanese government delivered an anti-global warming plan that would require individuals to curb their use of the petrol-fuelled car.

The car of the future?

Toyota on Tuesday unveiled the first environmentally-friendly hybrid car.

The four-door sedan, is cheap by Japanese standards, at 17-thousand-700 U-S dollars; efficient, doing 28 kilometres to a litre -- or 66 miles per gallon -- and easy on pollution, with a 90 percent reduction in tailpipe emissions.

SOUNDBITE: (Japanese)

"We need to aggressively challenge over- technological innovation. Furthermore, we will open the new era by repeatedly conversing with society."

SUPER CAPTION: Hiroshi Okuda, President of Toyota Motor Co.

Toyota is the first on to the market.

All the major car manufacturers, including America's Big Three, General Motors, Ford and Chrysler, and the Europeans are also working on hybrid technology.

But Toyota is the only one so far to actually bring a hybrid to the showrooms.

Toyota says it plans to sell about 1-thousand hybrids a year.

How the car will be received by consumers is unclear.

But it is sure to excite engineers across the world, who will be taking a good look at the first Prius they can get their hands on.

The hybrid is clever and expensive technology.

It runs on electricity at lower speeds when the petrol engine is less efficient and switches to petrol only after it picks up speed.

But unlike the even cleaner electric car that has to be recharged after 200 kilometres (120 miles), the driver only needs to take it to a regular gas station because its engine and brakes keep the hybrid recharged.

Although its fuel economy is an attraction in Japan, given its high petrol prices -- 90 yen per litre or 2.80 dollars U-S per gallon), how much consumers are willing to pay for a hybrid remains a question.

Both Nissan and Honda Motor Co. have recently disclosed their own hybrid technology and say they plan to put a hybrid car on the market in the next year or so.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"This is just, you know, the headstart on various hybrid systems being developed by Japanese, American and European automakers. So we'll see how it evolves but I think this is a very good headstart."

SUPER CAPTION: Toshio Aritake, Bureau of National Affairs

But for Toyota there is a certain cache to being first.

It's also good marketing. Toyota will be in a good position to monitor customer feedback and adjust later models accordingly.

Meanwhile, a Japanese engineering firm has unveiled the world's first magnetic powered vehicle -- albeit a small one.

With this truck, seen here in a model version, the Nihon Riken company claims petrol would be redundant for transporting goods by road and could be used only for cars and heavy industry.

The company has developed a system which is says will replace petrol with magnets as an energy source.

Teruo Kawai, the head of the project team discovered how to convert the electromagnetic energy of the permanent magnet into output energy by introducing a special switching function.

In a series of applications, iron is combined with a permanent magnet to be used as one magnetic substance.

SOUNDBITE: (Japanese)

"My final goal is, at the time when people's biggest concern is pollution, to produce a car that would not cause any pollution at all. I want to make a motor which needs less battery and is effective. That's is to say, a motor with a new concept."

SUPER CAPTION: Teruo Kawai, inventor of magnetic powered vehicle

The development of new environmentally-friendly power sources is timely.

The Japanese government has just set out a plan to reduce greenhouse emissions by 5 percent, including deadly carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide.

The plan calls for people to substantially reduce their use of the conventional petrol-powered car.

Tokyo, Japan. 13 and 14 October 1997

14 October 1997

1. Wide shot of hybrid powered car being unveiled

2. Close up pan across car

3. Wide shot of car show being addressed by Hiroshi Okuda

4. SOUNDBITE: Hiroshi Okuda, President of Toyota Motor Co. (Japanese)

5. Various of Toyota video explaining hybrid power system.

6. Prospective buyer sitting in car

7. Pan from prospective buyer in car to engine

8. SOUNDBITE: Toshio Aritake, Bureau of National Affairs (English)

9. Interior of the car

13 October 1997

10. Wide shot of magnetic powered vehicle.

11. Close up of vehicle.

12. Various of engineering placing magnet in power drive.

13. SOUNDBITE: Teruo Kawai, Inventor of magnetic powered

vehicle (Japanese)

14. Wide shot of vehicle being photographed

Toyota said Wednesday it is recalling 1.9 (m) million hybrid Prius cars globally for a software glitch that could cause the vehicle to stall.

Toyota Motor Corp. said that 997,000 Prius cars in Japan, some 713,000 in North America, another 130,000 in Europe and the rest in other regions are being recalled for a problem in the software to control the hybrid system.

Analysts say the move has sent ripples through stock markets, as the Japanese automaker has suffered similar massive recalls in the past.

"Toyota is the forerunner in terms of taking the same products into different cars. And therefore, if they have a problem, it always affects a lot of cars. Every car manufacturer has recalls from time to time, but Toyota tends to have big recalls and big recalls are big problems," said Tim Schuld, auto industry analyst and Managing Director of Equinet Bank.

Schuld added the development could affect Toyota's standing in the auto industry.

Toyota earlier this year claimed the top-selling spot for a second year in a row, beating US rival General Motors by some 270,000 vehicles in 2013, and had set an ambitious target to sell more than 10 (m) million vehicles this year.

"It's a tight race, Volkswagen wants to be the number one as well, GM (General Motors) wants to get the number one again, this recall will definitely not help," said Schuld.

No accidents or injuries have been reported related to the problem.

The software could cause transistors to become damaged, causing warnings lights to go off, driving power to be reduced or the car to stop.

The recalled vehicles were manufactured between March 2009 and February 2014.

The manufacturer suffered huge recalls starting in 2009, affecting more than 14 (m) million vehicles for problems including floor mats, gas pedals and brakes.

"The number of recalls Toyota had was not so large. It was just few recalls, but every time they had a recall it was a massive recall. So it might be just bad luck, but nobody in this industry is completely immune to such things," said Schuld.

AP TELEVISION

++AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING++

1. Set up of auto industry analyst Tim Schuld

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Tim Schuld, Managing Director, Equinet Bank:

"It depends a lot on how much the recall will cost and if there's any bigger problems, but obviously the market is pretty excited about it, because they had such large problems in the past."

3. Cutaway of Equinet Bank logo on glass wall

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Tim Schuld, Managing Director, Equinet Bank:

"Toyota is a forerunner in terms of taking the same products into different cars. And therefore, if they have a problem, it always affects a lot of cars. Every car manufacturer has recalls from time to time, but Toyota tends to have big recalls and big recalls are big problems."

5. Mid of Schuld being interviewed

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Tim Schuld, Managing Director, Equinet Bank:

"It's a tight race, Volkswagen wants to be the number one as well, GM (General Motors) wants to get the number one again, this recall will definitely not help."

7. Wide of Schuld being interviewed

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Tim Schuld, Managing Director, Equinet Bank:

"It's difficult to say, because the number of recalls Toyota had was not so large. It was just few recalls, but every time they had a recall it was a massive recall. So it might be just bad luck, but nobody in this industry is completely immune to such things."

9. Close of Equinet Bank logo

VOICE-OVER SCRIPT:

TOYOTA IS RECALLING NEARLY TWO-MILLION CARS.

THE JAPANESE AUTOMAKER SAYS A SOFTWARE GLITCH COULD CAUSE PRIUS HYBRIDS TO STALL.

THE NOTICE AFFECTS 713-THOUSAND VEHICLES IN NORTH AMERICA.

SOUNDBITE (English) Tim Schuld, Managing Director, Equinet Bank:

"Toyota is a forerunner in terms of taking the same products into different cars. And therefore, if they have a problem, it always affects a lot of cars. Every car manufacturer has recalls from time to time, but Toyota tends to have big recalls and big recalls are big problems."

WHILE THIS RECALL INVOLVES A LARGE NUMBER OF VEHICLES--IT'S DWARFED BY THE MORE THAN 14-MILLION TOYOTAS RECALLED STARTING IN 2009. THOSE PROBLEMS INCLUDED FLOOR MATS, GAS PEDALS AND BRAKES.

SOUNDBITE (English) Tim Schuld, Managing Director, Equinet Bank:

"It's a tight race, Volkswagen wants to be the number one as well, GM (General Motors) wants to get the number one again, this recall will definitely not help."

THE COMPANY SAYS THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES DUE TO THE CURRENT GLITCH. THE RECALL COVERS CARS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MARCH OF 2009 AND THIS MONTH.

MATT FRIEDMAN. ASSOCIATED PRESS.

AP TELEVISION

FILE: Tokyo, Japan - August 3, 2012

1. Various of Prius models in showroom

12 February 2014

2. Screenshot: Tilt down and zoom in of Toyota's website to check recalled vehicles

Frankfurt - 12 Feb 2014

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Tim Schuld, Managing Director, Equinet Bank:

FILE: Tokyo, Japan - August 3, 2012

4. Medium of Prius in showroom

FILE -- EXACT DATE AND LOCATION UNKNOWN

5. Various of exteriors of Toyota dealership exteriors

6. Technician working gas and brake pedals of vehicle

Frankfurt - 12 Feb 2014

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Tim Schuld, Managing Director, Equinet Bank:

FILE: Nagoya, Japan - February 4, 2009

8. Wide exterior of Toyota headquarters building

9. Close of flags outside Toyota HQ

FILE -- EXACT DATE AND LOCATION UNKNOWN

10. Various of Prius' at dealership

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus005419

VOICE-OVER SCRIPT:

TOYOTA IS RECALLING NEARLY TWO-MILLION CARS.

THE JAPANESE AUTOMAKER SAYS A SOFTWARE GLITCH COULD CAUSE PRIUS HYBRIDS TO STALL.

THE NOTICE AFFECTS 713-THOUSAND VEHICLES IN NORTH AMERICA.

SOUNDBITE (English) Tim Schuld, Managing Director, Equinet Bank:

"Toyota is a forerunner in terms of taking the same products into different cars. And therefore, if they have a problem, it always affects a lot of cars. Every car manufacturer has recalls from time to time, but Toyota tends to have big recalls and big recalls are big problems."

WHILE THIS RECALL INVOLVES A LARGE NUMBER OF VEHICLES--IT'S DWARFED BY THE MORE THAN 14-MILLION TOYOTAS RECALLED STARTING IN 2009. THOSE PROBLEMS INCLUDED FLOOR MATS, GAS PEDALS AND BRAKES.

SOUNDBITE (English) Tim Schuld, Managing Director, Equinet Bank:

"It's a tight race, Volkswagen wants to be the number one as well, GM (General Motors) wants to get the number one again, this recall will definitely not help."

THE COMPANY SAYS THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES DUE TO THE CURRENT GLITCH. THE RECALL COVERS CARS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MARCH OF 2009 AND THIS MONTH.

MATT FRIEDMAN. ASSOCIATED PRESS.

AP TELEVISION

FILE: Tokyo, Japan - August 3, 2012

1. Various of Prius models in showroom

12 February 2014

2. Screenshot: Tilt down and zoom in of Toyota's website to check recalled vehicles

Frankfurt - 12 Feb 2014

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Tim Schuld, Managing Director, Equinet Bank:

FILE: Tokyo, Japan - August 3, 2012

4. Medium of Prius in showroom

FILE -- EXACT DATE AND LOCATION UNKNOWN

5. Various of exteriors of Toyota dealership exteriors

6. Technician working gas and brake pedals of vehicle

Frankfurt - 12 Feb 2014

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Tim Schuld, Managing Director, Equinet Bank:

FILE: Nagoya, Japan - February 4, 2009

8. Wide exterior of Toyota headquarters building

9. Close of flags outside Toyota HQ

FILE -- EXACT DATE AND LOCATION UNKNOWN

10. Various of Prius' at dealership

Toyota said on Wednesday that it was recalling 1.9 (m) million hybrid Prius cars globally because of a software glitch that could cause the vehicle to stall.

Toyota Motor Corporation said the cars were being recalled because of a problem in the software that controls the hybrid system.

It also said 997-thousand of the affected Prius cars were in Japan, some 713-thousand in North America, and 130-thousand in Europe, with the rest in other regions.

The software could cause transistors to become damaged, causing warnings lights to go off, driving power to be reduced, or the car to stop.

The recalled vehicles were manufactured between March 2009 and February 2014.

No accidents or injuries have been reported related to the problem.

The Japanese automaker suffered massive recalls starting in 2009, affecting more than 14 (m) million vehicles for problems including floor mats, gas pedals and brakes.

AP TELEVISION

12 February 2014

1. Screenshot: Tilt down and zoom in of Toyota's website to check recalled vehicles

FILE: Tokyo, Japan - August 3, 2012

2. Wide of Prius showroom, showing various models of Prius ++AP CANNOT CONFIRM IF THESE ARE THE SAME AS PRIUS MODEL RECALLED++

3. Close of Prius sign

4. Mid of Prius PHV ++AP CAN CONFIRM THIS MODEL HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED++

5. Close of Prius Alpha ++AP CAN CONFIRM THIS MODEL HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED++

6. Mid of boy in driving seat of car

FILE: Nagoya, Japan - February 4, 2009

3. Wide exterior of Toyota headquarters building

4. Close of flags outside Toyota HQ

JAPAN TOYOTA

SOURCE: AP TELEVISION

RESTRICTIONS: TECHNOLOGY CLIENTS ONLY

LENGTH: 4:22

SHOTLIST:

AP Television

Tokyo, Japan - 17 November 2014

1. Various of Toyota's "Mirai"driving by

AP Television

Tokyo, Japan - 18 November 2014

2. Pan right from media to wide of Mitsuhisa Kato, Toyota Motor Corp Executive Vice President (left) and Yoshikazu Tanaka, Toyota Motor Corp product planning group's Deputy Chief Engineer posing with car

3. Close of Kato and Tanaka

4. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Mitsuhisa Kato, Toyota Motor Corp Executive Vice President:

"The "FCV" - if hydrogen energy is accepted, it will make a great difference in the society. I believe its innovation will surpass the Prius."

AP Television

Tokyo, Japan - 17 November 2014

5. Low shot of Toyota's "Mirai" driving by

AP Television

Tokyo, Japan - 18 November 2014

6. Wide of model showing fuel cell system

7. Close of Fuel filler

8. Pan left of model showing fuel cell system

9. Close of Fuel cell stack

AP Television

Tokyo, Japan - 17 November 2014

10. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Hitoshi Nomasa, Toyota Motor Corp Project Manager of Mirai:

"The fuel cell stack is the heart of this vehicle, and furthermore, the "cell" is the key. Including its reliability, we put much of the effort in reducing the size and maximising the power of the fuel cell stack that had to be installed in an automobile. The mass production technology is also another factor that we focused on and we finally came to this point (of putting it out on the market)."

11. Pan left of Mirai driving by

12. Various of Mirai interior as it drives

13. Wide of Mirai passing by sign reading (English): "JHFC, Japan Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Demonstration Project"

14. Wide of Mirai arriving at hydrogen station pump

15. Various of fuelling process

AP Television

Tokyo, Japan - 18 November 2014

16. Setup shot of Haans Griemel, Asia Editor of Automotive News, speaking with man

17. Close up of Griemel

18. SOUNDBITE (English) Haans Griemel, Asia Editor of Automotive News:

"The most challenging part of this car's roll out is of course the infrastructure. It's kind of a chicken and egg type of a problem. People want to buy the car only if there's an infrastructure, but there won't be the infrastructure unless people are buying the cars. So, that's the biggest hurdle I would say right now, it's just getting a fuelling network up and running so that people aren't afraid to drive this car across the country."

19. Wide of press conference

20. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Yoshikazu Tanaka, Toyota Motor Corp Product Planning Group's Deputy Chief Engineer:

"Our goal for the release in 2015 was originally decided in 2011 when the infrastructure providers, automakers and the government agreed and announced its plan to have the infrastructure ready by year 2015. We timed it - in a way - to synchronise with the similar movement happening in Europe and in America so we went along with that."

21. Close of Mirai's front interior

22. Close of logo reading (English) "FUELCELL"

23. Wide of Mirai

24. Pull focus of Toyota logo

AP Television

Tokyo, Japan - 17 November 2014

25. Low shot of Mirai driving past

LEADIN:

Toyota is about to take its first small step into the unproven market of emissions-free, hydrogen-powered vehicles.

The world's largest automaker has announced it will begin selling a limited number of its fuel cell car - named 'Mirai' - from December in Japan and later in mid-2015 across the US and Europe.

STORYLINE:

It's named the Toyota Mirai and now this sporty-looking four-door is stealing all the attention in Tokyo.

At a press event on Tuesday (18 November), the Japanese car manufacturers unveiled their latest creation to the media.

It's set to retail for 6.7 million yen ($57,600 USD) before taxes.

But if you're hoping to get your hands on you'll have to be quick, Toyota Motor Corp only expect to sell 400 in Japan and 300 in the rest of the world in the first year.

More importantly, it represents a seismic shift for the Japanese automakers, the Mirai is their first emissions-free, hydrogen-powered vehicle.

"The "FCV" - if hydrogen energy is accepted, it will make a great difference in the society," says Mitsuhisa Kato, Toyota Motor Corp's executive vice president.

"I believe its innovation will surpass the Prius."

Fuel cell vehicles run on compressed hydrogen gas, which - in Mirai's case - is stored in two tanks mounted underneath the vehicle.

They emit no exhaust, though fossil fuels are used in the production of hydrogen and to pressurise it.

According to those involved with its creation, the most difficult factor in developing the vehicle was its fuel cell stack.

"The fuel cell stack is the heart of this vehicle, and furthermore, the "cell" is the key," says Hitoshi Nomasa, project manager of Mirai.

"Including its reliability, we put much of the effort in reducing the size and maximising the power of the fuel cell stack that had to be installed in an automobile. The mass production technology is also another factor that we focused on and we finally came to this point (of putting it out on the market)."

The stack outputs a maximum of 114 KW.

According to Toyota, the efficiency of its electricity generation has been improved by using 3D fine mesh flow channels to ensure uniform generation on cell surfaces - a world first.

Other Asian automakers, Honda and Hyundai, are also experimenting with limited sales and leases of fuel cell cars.

Honda recently showed off a fuel cell concept.

Besides the relatively high cost, buyers will have to contend with finding fuel - only a few dozen hydrogen filling stations have been built worldwide, though governments are subsidising the construction of more.

It's an uncertain future that depends both on whether makers can bring down the price and if a wide-enough network of filling stations is built.

According to auto analyst Haans Griemel, the most challenging part of selling the FCVs is the problem of infrastructure.

"The most challenging part of this car's roll out is of course the infrastructure," he says.

"It's kind of a chicken and egg type of a problem. People want to buy the car only if there's an infrastructure, but there won't be the infrastructure unless people are buying the cars. So, that's the biggest hurdle I would say right now, it's just getting a fuelling network up and running so that people aren't afraid to drive this car across the country."

Yoshikazu Tanaka, the deputy chief engineer for Toyota's next generation vehicle development, says he expects it will take 10-20 years for the Mirai to reach sales in the tens of thousands of vehicles a year.

This release was timed with what's happening around the world.

"Our goal for the release in 2015 was originally decided in 2011 when the infrastructure providers, automakers and the government agreed and announced its plan to have the infrastructure ready by year 2015," says Tanaka.

"We timed it - in a way - to synchronise with the similar movement happening in Europe and in America so we went along with that."

Toyota faced a similar scenario with its gasoline-electric hybrid - the Prius - which now sells in big numbers.

Hoping to offset the inconvenience of finding fuel, Toyota gave the car a futuristic look inside and out - Mirai means 'future' in Japanese.

It accelerates quickly, from about 40 to 70 kilometres (25 to 45 miles) per hour.

The Japanese government also plans to offer a 2 million yen ($17,136 USD) subsidy to purchasers of fuel cell cars, reducing the effective price to 4.7 million yen ($40,270 USD).

Sales will be limited to the primarily urban areas that have fueling stations.

In Japan, there are about 30 stations.

They're in the regions around Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya cities in central and western Japan and the northern part of Kyushu Island in the south.

A few stations have opened in California in the United States and there are plans to build some in the Northeast.

Germany and the UK are among European countries that have or plan to build them.

According to Toyota, they currently have about 200 pre-orders for the vehicle, mainly from government agencies and companies that want to go green.

The Mirai can travel 650 to 700 kilometres (400-435 miles) on its two tanks of hydrogen.

In the US, its range is 300 miles because of different driving conditions.

Hydrogen may be more expensive than gas initially, because there are so few customers but - over time - Toyota expects it will be cheaper to run a car on hydrogen than gas.

====

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Cars that run on hydrogen and exhaust only water vapor are emerging to challenge electric vehicles as the world's transportation of the future.

At the Los Angeles Auto Show Wednesday, Honda and Hyundai automakers unveiled hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to be delivered to the general public as early as next spring.

Toyota promised a mass-produced fuel cell car by 2015 at the Tokyo car show earlier.

Hyundai Motor Co. will be the first to the mass market in the U.S. It unveiled a hydrogen-powered Tucson small SUV that will be leased to consumers for $499 per month for three years with $3,000 down.

Hydrogen cars are appealing because unlike electric vehicles, they have the range of a typical gasoline car and can be refueled quickly. Experts say the industry also has overcome safety and reliability concerns that have hindered distribution in the past.

But hydrogen cars still have a glaring downside � refueling stations are scarce, and costly to build.

Consumers can expect costs in line with some luxury models.

Hyundai is offering to pay the hydrogen and maintenance costs. The company will start leasing in the Los Angeles area, where most of the state's nine fueling stations are located. California lawmakers have allocated $100 million to build 100 more. Honda wouldn't reveal any pricing details.

Hydrogen cars, experts say, have an advantage over battery-powered electric cars because drivers don't have to worry about running out of electricity and having to wait hours for recharging.

Hydrogen fuel cells use a complex chemical process to separate electrons and protons in hydrogen gas molecules. The electrons power a car's electric motor, which turns the wheels.

Since the hydrogen isn't burned, there's no pollution. Instead, oxygen also is pumped into the system, and when it meets the hydrogen ions and electrons, that creates water and heat. The only byproduct is water.

A fuel cell produces only about one volt of electricity, so many are stacked to generate enough juice.

Toyota said its new fuel cell vehicle will go on sale in Japan in 2015 and within a year later in Europe and U.S.

Toyota's fuel cell car is a "concept" model called FCV that looks like a sleeker Prius gas-electric hybrid.

Honda, which has leased about two-dozen fuel cell cars since 2005, took the wraps off a futuristic-looking FCEV concept vehicle in Los Angeles.

Honda executives predict that it will take five years for the hydrogen refueling stations to reach significant numbers outside California, and up to 25 years to go nationwide.

But skeptics say hydrogen fueling stations are more expensive than electric car charging stations, partly because electricity is almost everywhere and new and safe ways for producing, storing and transferring

hydrogen will be needed.

AP TELEVISION

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Los Angeles, California

1. Wide, convention floor at Los Angeles Auto Show

2. Wide, pan across cars covered with fabric waiting to be revealed

3. Wide, Chevrolet logo advertising new "Colorado" mid-size pickup truck

4. Medium, smoke and colored lights around new Subaru WRX, silky fabric slides off to unveil new car model in cherry red

5. Medium low, man peers in driver's side door of Subaru WRX

6. Wide, Honda stage with water and lights and concept car under wraps

7. Medium, screen above stage reads reads "Honda FCEV Concept"

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Tetsuo Iwamura, President and CEO, American Honda Motor Co.

"Today we want to focus on what we believe has the potential to become the ultimate solution to realizing ultra-low carbon mobility. And that is the fuel cell electric vehicle."

9. Wide, Iwamura speaks on stage in front of veiled concept car

10. Tight, rear bumper of concept car as Iwarmura walks in front

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Tetsuo Iwamura, President and CEO, American Honda Motor Co."The Honda FCEV concept!" (wide, fabric is whisked off car and music swells)

12. Wide, Honda sign on convention floor

13. Medium, woman tries to open door on concept car

14. Medium, man takes photo of car with cell phone

15. Tight, rear license plate pan up to Honda logo on rear bumper

16. SOUNDBITE (English) John O'Dell, Edmunds.com green vehicle analyst "Hydrogen fuel cells basically mix hydrogen and oxygen together, separate out the electrons and produce the electricity on board. In actuality, a hydrogen fuel cell car is an electric vehicle."

17. Tight, front of Honda concept car, zoom out to entire car

18. Tight, Honda insignia on front of car

19. Medium, photographer takes photo of car 20. SOUNDBITE (English) John O'Dell, Edmunds.com green vehicle analyst "The way Hyundai for instance tests its fuel cell tank? They light the car on fire. They've burnt up entire fuel cell vehicles to see what happens.

The pressure vent on the tank releases, the hydrogen goes up in a fan shape, it burns like a butane lighter, straight up in the air. And it dissipates in a couple of minutes."

21. Tight, curves on concept car, zoom out to entire car

22. Tight, Iwamura speaks to Japanese reporters

23. Medium pan, concept car

24. SOUNDBITE (English) John O'Dell, Edmunds.com green vehicle analyst "It's a more compact package and it's lighter than a big battery pack that you need for a plug-in electric vehicle."

25. Wide, audience waiting for Hyundai press conference

26. Medium, people at Hyundai presser

27. Wide, Hyundai Tucson ix35 hydrogen fuel cell compact SUV spinning slowly

28. Tight, Hyundai fuel cell vehicle spinning 29. Wide, Hyundai stage

30. SOUNDBITE (English) John Krafcik, President and CEO, Hyundai Motor America "You've got driving range of up to 300 miles. You can refuel them in just a few minutes. And there's endless choice in size and configuration.

That's because it's more space- and weight-efficient to multiply the number of fuel cells than it is to multiply the number of batteries."

31. Wide, Krafcik on stage

32. Medium, Hyundai Tucson compact SUV

33. Wide, Toyota display at convention

34. Tight, Toyota sign

35. Tight zoom out to medium, worker polishing Dodge Challenger anniversary edition

36. Medium, model in white dress and boots with Dodge Challenger

SHOTLIST

1. Wide of a joint news conference by Toyota Motor Corp. and BMW management

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Klaus Draeger, Member of BMW AG, development board of management:

"In future, the BMW group, and Toyota Motor Corporation, will work together in what is designed to be a long term technological partnership. By carrying out basic research together, we want to speed up the development of battery cell technologies."

3. Wide of news conference

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Executive Vice President and Representative Director of Toyota Motor Corp:

"And we at Toyota are exploring possibilities across a full range of technologies. The battery technology that we will develop with BMW will be the core technology for both reducing and replacing petroleum fuel."

5. Pan from media to photo session

6. Close of handshake

STORYLINE:

Auto giants Toyota and BMW said on Thursday they had agreed to collaborate on research for cleaner, next-generation batteries, underlining the growing push in the industry for green technology.

The agreement brings together Toyota Motor Corp., Japan's No. 1 carmaker and a leader in petrol-electric hybrids, and BMW AG of Germany, a European maker that has a strong luxury brand image in both Japan and Europe.

"In future, the BMW group, and Toyota Motor Corporation, will work together in what is designed to be a long term technological partnership," Klaus Draeger, Member of BMW AG, development board of management said.

The two automakers will also work on improving lithium-ion battery technology, typically used in batteries for electronic gadgets and relatively new to autos.

Toyota has struggled to find a good lithium-ion battery for its green cars and is using technology from Japanese electronics maker Sanyo Electric Co. in its latest plug-in hybrid, for which Toyota has recently started taking orders.

Toyota had worked with Panasonic Corp. on a battery before the electronics maker acquired Sanyo, partly to get better lithium-ion technology.

"And we at Toyota are exploring possibilities across a full range of technologies. The battery technology that we will develop with BMW will be the core technology for both reducing and replacing petroleum fuel," Toyota Executive Vice President Takeshi Uchiyamada told reporters at a Tokyo news conference.

Toyota and BMW have been engaged in extended discussions on technology and plan to collaborate on other medium-term and long-term projects, he said.

BMW will also begin supplying "clean" diesel engines to Toyota in 2014 for models for the European market.

Diesel engines for passenger cars are huge in Europe but have yet to take off in the U.S. or Japan, the two major markets where Toyota is strong.

Toyota does not have enough clean diesel engines for its European offerings.

Under their agreement, BMW is supplying 1.6 litre and 2.0 litre fuel-efficient diesel engines for Toyota.

They declined to give details on models.

The announcement was timed with the Tokyo Motor Show, which opens to the public on Saturday.

SHOTLIST

1. Toyota President Akio Toyoda (glasses, navy tie with diagonal stripe) meeting Japanese Transport Minister Seiji Maehara

2. Media cutaway

3. Toyoda and Maehara taking seats

4. Close of Maehara pan to Toyoda

5. Media

6. Toyoda approaching media for news conference

7. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation:

"People think that we were slow to respond. We feel ashamed but now I am taking a lead and ask you to wait for just a little longer."

8. Mid of media

9. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation:

"I am thinking of going to the US to give an explanation of myself to the involved parties."

10. Maehara walking to podium for his news conference

11. Media

12. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Seiji Maehara, Japanese Transport Minister:

"It is of course important that companies should call for a product recall with such problems, but because we must take care that it doesn''t turn into a diplomatic problem, various countries have to carefully consider their approach."

13. Wide of news conference

STORYLINE

Toyota said it was recalling about 437-thousand Prius and other hybrid vehicles worldwide to fix brake problems, the latest in a string of embarrassing safety lapses at the world''s largest automaker.

"We feel ashamed but now I am taking a lead and ask you to wait for just a little longer," President Akio Toyoda said at a news conference on Tuesday in Tokyo, after a meeting with Japanese Transport Minister Seiji Maehara.

With the Prius announcement, the number of vehicles recalled globally by Toyota Motor Corporation has ballooned to 8.5 (m) million, for the brake problems, and also for faulty acceleration pedals that are slow to return to the idle position, and for floor mats which can trap acceleration pedals.

The 2010 Prius wasn''t part of the earlier recalls.

There have been about 200 complaints in Japan and the US about a delay when the brakes in the Prius were pressed in cold conditions and on some bumpy roads.

The delay doesn''t indicate a brake failure.

The company says the problem can be fixed in 40 minutes with new software that oversees the controls of the antilock brakes.

Toyota officials went to Japan''s Transport Ministry earlier on Tuesday to formally notify officials that the company was recalling the 2010 Prius gas-electric hybrid - the world''s top-selling hybrid car.

Toyoda, the president, has been criticised for being largely invisible during the two weeks after the company announced on January 21 the acceleration pedal recall in the US, Europe and China.

He apologised at his first public press conference last Friday, and again on Tuesday, but was criticised by the Japanese media for failing to outline concrete steps to tackle the safety crisis and to reassure customers around the world.

He said he planned to go to the US soon to talk with American Toyota workers and dealers.

Analysts said fears of an even bigger consumer backlash had prodded Toyota into recalling the Prius.

The Japanese Transport Minister Seiji Maehara criticised Toyota for reacting too slowly, and said he was meeting US Ambassador to Japan, John Roos, on Wednesday to exchange views about Toyota''s recalls and make sure US-Japan relations remained on good terms.

"We must take care that it doesn''t turn into a diplomatic problem," Seiji Maehara told reporters after his meeting with Toyoda.

"Various countries have to carefully consider their approach," he said.

The automaker is also recalling two other hybrid models in Japan, the Lexus HS250h sedan, sold in the US and Japan, and the Sai, which is sold only in Japan.

The 223-thousand cars being recalled in Japan include nearly 200-thousand Priuses sold from April last year until Monday, according to papers the automaker filed with the ministry. The Prius is Japan''s top-selling car.

In the US, Toyota will recall 133-thousand Prius cars and 14,500 Lexus HS250h vehicles.

Nearly 53-thousand Priuses are also being recalled in Europe.

Toyota is suspending production of the Sai and Lexus HS250h in Japan until the updated software for those models is ready.

If drivers experience a delayed reaction when depressing the brakes in any of these models, they should keep pressing, according to Toyota and the transport ministry.

The Prius repairs will start in Japan on Wednesday.

US owners will start receiving letters about the recall next week.

US safety officials have launched an investigation into problems with the brakes.

Toyota''s plug-in hybrid is also being recalled in Japan, Europe and the US, but in small numbers because it is a largely experimental model for rental and government use.

The Prius holds a cherished spot in Toyota''s vehicle lineup and is symbolic of its leadership in the "green" car market.

Toyota was one of the first companies to mass-market a hybrid that combines an electric motor with a petrol engine, introducing the Prius in Japan in 1997.

Its high petrol mileage made it popular among environmentally conscious drivers, especially when petrol prices spiked two years ago.

But the complexity of the Prius, a highly computerised car, has led to problems in the past.

In 2005, the company repaired 75-thousand of them to fix software glitches that caused the engine to stall.

It has also had trouble with headlights going out.

Shares in Toyota rose 2.9 percent on Tuesday to 3,375 yen, but are still down about 20 percent since Jan. 21, when it announced the acceleration pedal recall.

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4081168

LEAD IN:

Toyota has revamped its plug-in hybrid with a longer cruising range and quicker charging.

The new Prius PHV also comes with solar panels and can be charged by plugging into a regular home electricity socket.

STORY-LINE:

This is Toyota's new Prius plug-in hybrid (PHV) which goes on sale in Japan today (Wednesday 15 Feb 2017).

The auto maker is hoping it will sell better than the first model from five years ago that officials acknowledged had flopped.

Sales in the U.S., where it's called Prius Prime, started late last year. It is set to launch in Europe and other countries in March.

Chairman of the Board of Directors at Toyota Motor Corporation, Takeshi Uchiyamada calls the PHV the future of eco cars.

"This is the key and core of the eco car and this is the car which should become the mainstream of the eco car from now on. What comes after the hybrid car? That will be PHV (plug in hybrid). This is Toyota's answer."

A hybrid switches between a gas engine and an electric motor that is powered by that gas engine.

A plug-in hybrid can travel further as a pure electric vehicle, which is zero-emission, but needs recharging when its battery is spent.

The cruising range of the new plug-in as an electric vehicle is 68.2 kilometres (42.4 miles), about five times the earlier model's 26.4 kilometres (16.4 miles).

Deputy Chief Engineer of Toyota Motor Corporation, Shoichi Kaneko says the Prius PHV can also be charged using solar panels on the roof.

"Finally, we converted solar energy to driving energy. We have made the option of a solar energy charging system available which will become a first for the mass production car."

Toyota says the car can drive up to 6.1 kilometres per day on solar power generated power.

The car can be fully charged in two hours and 20 minutes, from a 200-volt outlet and in 14 hours at a 100-volt outlet. At a special charging machine, it reaches an 80 percent charge in just 20 minutes.

Toyota hopes to sell 2,500 PHV cars in Japan a month. It gave no overseas targets. It sold only 22,000 of the earlier PHVs.

The lacklustre sales contrast with Toyota's leadership in hybrid vehicles; it has sold 10 million globally since the first Prius went on sale in 1997.

Nearly half of the vehicles Toyota sells in Japan are hybrid models.

Tokyo – 15 February 2017

1. Close of the new Prius PHV being unveiled

2. Wide of Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of the Board of directors, Toyota Motor Corporation, on the stage

3. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of the Board of directors, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"This is the key and core of the eco car and this is the car which should become the mainstream of the eco car from now on. What comes after the hybrid car? That will be PHV (plug in hybrid). This is Toyota's answer."

4. Close of new Prius PHV

5. Wide of Shoichi Kaneko, Deputy Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation, on stage

6. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shoichi Kaneko, Deputy Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"Finally, we converted solar energy to driving energy. We have made the option of a solar energy charging system available which will become a first for the mass production car."

7. Various of solar panel on the roof part of Prius PHV

8. Close of PHV sign

9. Various of plug in part on the side of the car

10. Close of Prius PHV sign

11. Various of Toyota managers and Japanese actresss who will front the TV ad for the Prius PHV

LEAD IN:

Toyota has revamped its plug-in hybrid with a longer cruising range and quicker charging.

The new Prius PHV also comes with solar panels and can be charged by plugging into a regular home electricity socket.

STORY-LINE:

This is Toyota's new Prius plug-in hybrid (PHV) which goes on sale in Japan today (Wednesday 15 Feb 2017).

The auto maker is hoping it will sell better than the first model from five years ago that officials acknowledged had flopped.

Sales in the U.S., where it's called Prius Prime, started late last year. It is set to launch in Europe and other countries in March.

Chairman of the Board of Directors at Toyota Motor Corporation, Takeshi Uchiyamada calls the PHV the future of eco cars.

"This is the key and core of the eco car and this is the car which should become the mainstream of the eco car from now on. What comes after the hybrid car? That will be PHV (plug in hybrid). This is Toyota's answer."

A hybrid switches between a gas engine and an electric motor that is powered by that gas engine.

A plug-in hybrid can travel further as a pure electric vehicle, which is zero-emission, but needs recharging when its battery is spent.

The cruising range of the new plug-in as an electric vehicle is 68.2 kilometres (42.4 miles), about five times the earlier model's 26.4 kilometres (16.4 miles).

Deputy Chief Engineer of Toyota Motor Corporation, Shoichi Kaneko says the Prius PHV can also be charged using solar panels on the roof.

"Finally, we converted solar energy to driving energy. We have made the option of a solar energy charging system available which will become a first for the mass production car."

Toyota says the car can drive up to 6.1 kilometres per day on solar power generated power.

The car can be fully charged in two hours and 20 minutes, from a 200-volt outlet and in 14 hours at a 100-volt outlet. At a special charging machine, it reaches an 80 percent charge in just 20 minutes.

Toyota hopes to sell 2,500 PHV cars in Japan a month. It gave no overseas targets. It sold only 22,000 of the earlier PHVs.

The lacklustre sales contrast with Toyota's leadership in hybrid vehicles; it has sold 10 million globally since the first Prius went on sale in 1997.

Nearly half of the vehicles Toyota sells in Japan are hybrid models.

Tokyo – 15 February 2017

1. Close of the new Prius PHV being unveiled

2. Wide of Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of the Board of directors, Toyota Motor Corporation, on the stage

3. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of the Board of directors, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"This is the key and core of the eco car and this is the car which should become the mainstream of the eco car from now on. What comes after the hybrid car? That will be PHV (plug in hybrid). This is Toyota's answer."

4. Close of new Prius PHV

5. Wide of Shoichi Kaneko, Deputy Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation, on stage

6. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shoichi Kaneko, Deputy Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"Finally, we converted solar energy to driving energy. We have made the option of a solar energy charging system available which will become a first for the mass production car."

7. Various of solar panel on the roof part of Prius PHV

8. Close of PHV sign

9. Various of plug in part on the side of the car

10. Close of Prius PHV sign

11. Various of Toyota managers and Japanese actresss who will front the TV ad for the Prius PHV

LEAD IN:

Toyota has revamped its plug-in hybrid with a longer cruising range and quicker charging.

The new Prius PHV also comes with solar panels and can be charged by plugging into a regular home electricity socket.

STORY-LINE:

This is Toyota's new Prius plug-in hybrid (PHV) which goes on sale in Japan today (Wednesday 15 Feb 2017).

The auto maker is hoping it will sell better than the first model from five years ago that officials acknowledged had flopped.

Sales in the U.S., where it's called Prius Prime, started late last year. It is set to launch in Europe and other countries in March.

Chairman of the Board of Directors at Toyota Motor Corporation, Takeshi Uchiyamada calls the PHV the future of eco cars.

"This is the key and core of the eco car and this is the car which should become the mainstream of the eco car from now on. What comes after the hybrid car? That will be PHV (plug in hybrid). This is Toyota's answer."

A hybrid switches between a gas engine and an electric motor that is powered by that gas engine.

A plug-in hybrid can travel further as a pure electric vehicle, which is zero-emission, but needs recharging when its battery is spent.

The cruising range of the new plug-in as an electric vehicle is 68.2 kilometres (42.4 miles), about five times the earlier model's 26.4 kilometres (16.4 miles).

Deputy Chief Engineer of Toyota Motor Corporation, Shoichi Kaneko says the Prius PHV can also be charged using solar panels on the roof.

"Finally, we converted solar energy to driving energy. We have made the option of a solar energy charging system available which will become a first for the mass production car."

Toyota says the car can drive up to 6.1 kilometres per day on solar power generated power.

The car can be fully charged in two hours and 20 minutes, from a 200-volt outlet and in 14 hours at a 100-volt outlet. At a special charging machine, it reaches an 80 percent charge in just 20 minutes.

Toyota hopes to sell 2,500 PHV cars in Japan a month. It gave no overseas targets. It sold only 22,000 of the earlier PHVs.

The lacklustre sales contrast with Toyota's leadership in hybrid vehicles; it has sold 10 million globally since the first Prius went on sale in 1997.

Nearly half of the vehicles Toyota sells in Japan are hybrid models.

Tokyo – 15 February 2017

1. Close of the new Prius PHV being unveiled

2. Wide of Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of the Board of directors, Toyota Motor Corporation, on the stage

3. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of the Board of directors, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"This is the key and core of the eco car and this is the car which should become the mainstream of the eco car from now on. What comes after the hybrid car? That will be PHV (plug in hybrid). This is Toyota's answer."

4. Close of new Prius PHV

5. Wide of Shoichi Kaneko, Deputy Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation, on stage

6. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shoichi Kaneko, Deputy Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"Finally, we converted solar energy to driving energy. We have made the option of a solar energy charging system available which will become a first for the mass production car."

7. Various of solar panel on the roof part of Prius PHV

8. Close of PHV sign

9. Various of plug in part on the side of the car

10. Close of Prius PHV sign

11. Various of Toyota managers and Japanese actresss who will front the TV ad for the Prius PHV

SHOTLIST

1. Wide of news conference

2. Cutaway of media

3. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Daniel Chang, President of Toyota Taiwan:

"Japan Toyota has announced that they will recall Prius cars today, and here we plan to put all our efforts to accomplish repairs within three days."

4. Mid of reporters

5. Wide of news conference

6. Pan of Toyota Prius at repair garage

7. Close of Prius engine

8. Close of logo on engine reading (English) "Hybrid Synergy Drive"

9. Various of technician upgrading software on Prius''s break system

10. Close of computer screen showing data on ABS system

STORYLINE

The President of Toyota Taiwan said on Tuesday the company there will try to make repairs to fix brake problems within three days, following the corporation''s announcement it is recalling about 437-thousand Prius and other hybrid vehicles worldwide.

Following the announcement, Toyota''s Taiwan office said it will recall all 629 Prius cars on the island.

The recall is the latest blow to the automaker, which is in the midst of recalling more than 7 (m) million vehicles worldwide because of problems with floor mats, which can trap gas pedals, and faulty gas pedals that are slow to return to the idle position.

The 2010 Prius wasn''t part of those recalls.

There have been about 200 complaints in Japan and the US about a delay when the brakes in the Prius were pressed in cold conditions and on some bumpy roads.

The delay doesn''t indicate a brake failure.

The company says the problem can be fixed in 40 minutes with new software that oversees the controls of the antilock brakes.

"We plan to put all our efforts to accomplish repairs within three days," Daniel Chang, President of Toyota in Taiwan said at a news conference on Tuesday.

Toyota officials went to Japan''s Transport Ministry earlier on Tuesday to formally notify officials the company is recalling the 2010 Prius gas-electric hybrid - the world''s top-selling hybrid car.

The automaker is also recalling two other hybrid models in Japan, the Lexus HS250h sedan, sold in the US and Japan, and the Sai, which is sold only in Japan.

The 223-thousand cars being recalled in Japan include nearly 200-thousand Priuses sold from April last year through Monday, according to papers the automaker filed with the ministry.

The Prius is Japan''s top-selling car.

In the US, Toyota will recall 133-thousand Prius cars and 14,500 Lexus Hs250h vehicles.

Nearly 53-thousand Priuses are also being recalled in Europe.

The problem is suspected in four crashes resulting in two minor injuries, according to data gathered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is investigating the matter.

Toyota says it''s cooperating with NHTSA''s investigation.

Problems with hybrid braking systems haven''t been limited to Toyota.

Ford Motor Co. said last week it plans to fix 17,600 Mercury Milan and Ford Fusion gas-electric hybrids because of a software problem that can give drivers the impression that the brakes have failed.

The automaker says the problem occurs in transition between two braking systems and at no time are drivers without brakes.

Toyota''s plug-in hybrid is also being recalled in Japan, a largely experimental model for rental and government use, with 159 sold.

The Prius holds a cherished spot in Toyota''s vehicle line-up and is symbolic of its leadership in the "green" car market.

Toyota was one of the first companies to mass-market a hybrid that combines an electric motor with a gas engine, introducing the Prius in Japan in 1997.

Its high gas mileage made it popular among environmentally conscious drivers, especially when gas prices spiked two years ago.

But the complexity of the Prius, a highly computerised car, has led to problems in the past.

In 2005, the company repaired 75-thousand of them to fix software glitches that caused the engine to stall.

It has also had trouble with headlights going out.

SHOTLIST

9 February 2010

1. Toyota President Akio Toyoda walking to news conference and taking seat

2. Cutaway of media

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Akio Toyoda, Toyota President:

"Earlier today we submitted the recall notifications in regard to four models; the Prius, the Prius plug-in hybrid, the Sai and the HS250h. The notifications are in regard to the braking system employed on those models. Let me assure everyone that we will redouble our commitment to quality as a lifeline of our company. With myself taking the lead and by keeping to the (INAUDIBLE) of principle. All of us at Toyota will tackle the issue in close cooperation with our dealers and with our suppliers, together we will do everything in our power to regain the confidence of our customers. I welcome your questions regarding this issue and other recent quality related concern, thank you very much."

4. Wide of attendants

5. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Akio Toyoda, Toyota President:

"I''m not saying that Toyota never makes mistakes. I do not think we are infallible. However, when we do make omissions or mistakes, we always make repairs, correct matters and replace the faulty parts, as we have done in the past and will continue to do with confidence in the future."

6. Mid of media

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Hans Greimel, From Automotive News Asia:

"Well, I think there is going to be of course a kind of an image blow here, this is that the Prius is largely responsible for Toyota''s reputation as a green environmentally friendly car company. So to see that the Prius be lumped into this expanding global recall crisis is going to be a blow to Toyota''s image."

5 February 2010

8. Various of Prius vehicles on display in Toyota''s Tokyo showroom

9. Interior of car, pan down to foot pedals

10. Close of Prius foot pedals

11. Wide of Lexus showroom in Tokyo

12. Close of Lexus lettering

13. Various of Lexus HS250h on display in showroom

STORYLINE

Toyota said it was recalling about 437-thousand Prius and other hybrid vehicles worldwide to fix brake problems, the latest in a string of embarrassing safety lapses at the world''s largest automaker.

Toyota President Akio Toyoda said on Tuesday at a news conference in Tokyo that the company decided to recall four models.

"Let me assure everyone that we will redouble our commitment to quality as a lifeline of our company," Toyoda said.

Toyota officials went to Japan''s Transport Ministry earlier on Tuesday to formally notify officials the company was recalling the 2010 Prius gas-electric hybrid - the world''s top-selling hybrid car, and two other hybrid models in Japan, the Lexus HS250h sedan, sold in the US and Japan, and the Sai, which is sold only in Japan.

The recall was the latest blow to Toyota Motor Corp., which is in the midst of recalling more than 7 (m) million vehicles worldwide because of problems with floor mats, which can trap gas pedals, and faulty gas pedals that are slow to return to the idle position.

The Prius wasn''t part of those recalls.

There have been about 200 complaints in Japan and the US about a delay when the brakes in the Prius were pressed in cold conditions and on some bumpy roads.

The delay doesn''t indicate a brake failure.

The company said the problem can be fixed by reprogramming the software that controls the braking system.

The 223-thousand cars being recalled in Japan include nearly 200-thousand Priuses sold from April last year through Monday, according to papers the automaker filed with the ministry.

The Prius is Japan''s top-selling car.

In the US, Toyota will recall 133-thousand Prius cars and 14,500 Lexus HS250h vehicles.

The Prius is also being recalled in Europe.

Toyoda has been criticised for being largely invisible during the two weeks after the company announced on January 21 the gas pedal recall in the US, Europe and China.

He apologised at his first public news conference last Friday, but was criticised by the Japanese media for failing to outline concrete steps to tackle the safety crisis and reassure customers around the world.

In contrast to his halting English in response to questions from foreign reporters at last week''s news conference, Toyoda seemed much better prepared on Tuesday, reading from an English statement after doing so in Japanese.

"We will do everything in our power to regain the confidence of our customers," he said.

US safety officials have launched an investigation into problems with the brakes.

The problem is suspected in four crashes resulting in two minor injuries, according to data gathered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is investigating the matter.

Toyota says it''s cooperating with NHTSA''s investigation.

Problems with hybrid braking systems haven''t been limited to Toyota.

Ford Motor Co. said last week it plans to fix 17,600 Mercury Milan and Ford Fusion gas-electric hybrids because of a software problem that can give drivers the impression that the brakes have failed.

The automaker says the problem occurs in transition between two braking systems and at no time are drivers without brakes.

Toyota''s plug-in hybrid is also being recalled in Japan, a largely experimental model for rental and government use, with 159 sold.

The Prius holds a cherished spot in Toyota''s vehicle line-up and is symbolic of its leadership in the "green" car market.

Toyota was one of the first companies to mass-market a hybrid that combines an electric motor with a gas engine, introducing the Prius in Japan in 1997.

Its high gas mileage made it popular among environmentally conscious drivers, especially when gas prices spiked two years ago.

But the complexity of the Prius, a highly computerised car, has led to problems in the past. In 2005, the company repaired 75-thousand of them to fix software glitches that caused the engine to stall.

It has also had trouble with headlights going out.

LEADIN:

Toyota is banking on hydrogen fuel cells to achieve its goal of zero-emissions by 2050.

While electric vehicles that run on batteries are best suited for short urban commutes, Toyota believes hydrogen is the more practical energy choice of the future.

STORYLINE:

At the Motomachi car factory in this city named after Toyota, the usual robots with their swinging arms are missing.

Instead, workers intently fit parts into place by hand with craftsmanship-like care.

The big moment on the assembly line comes when bulbous yellow tanks of hydrogen are rolled over and delicately fitted into each car's underside.

While much of the world is going gung-ho for electric vehicles to help get rid of auto emissions and end reliance on fossil fuels, Japan's top automaker Toyota Motor Corp. is banking on hydrogen.

Toyota sells about 10 million vehicles a year around the world. It has sold only about 4,000 Mirai fuel cell vehicles since late 2014, roughly half of them outside Japan.

The Mirai, which means "future," is not cheap at 57,500 US dollars but Toyota loses money on each one. Still, the company's goal is to sell 30,000 fuel-cell vehicles a year by about 2020.

Toyota's chairman, Takeshi Uchiyamada, believes hydrogen is an ideal, stable fuel for a future low-carbon society.

"Upon thinking of what will become the energy of the future, we have been debating both within Japan and internationally about what kind of energy should be our option. There are two main points we need to consider. First, how to realize a low-carbon society to create a society with less CO2 emissions. The second point is to ensure a stable energy supply for the future. In this light, hydrogen holds tremendous potential," says Uchiyamada, known as "the father of the Prius," the world's top-selling hybrid car.

The Prius turned out to be a good bet for Toyota. The Mirai could be the same.

Hydrogen fuel cells don't suffer from limited range drawbacks of many electric vehicles. The Mirai can run for 312 miles (502 kilometers) per fuelling, under U.S. EPA conditions, and fuels as quickly as a regular car.

"It (Hydrogen FCV) certainly has more convenience for users (in comparison to electric vehicles), meaning driving range is much longer and there is not much of difference in time to fill in hydrogen with the conventional gasoline cars. I think that is one of the major features (for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles)," says Uchiyamada.

A fuel cell mixes hydrogen with the oxygen in the air to generate electricity that can power a motor.

Producing the highly flammable gas and getting it into the vehicles requires energy. Ultimately, the idea is to convert energy from renewables like wind and solar power into hydrogen, or even make hydrogen from sewage waste.

Unlike a gas-powered internal combustion engine, the only byproducts from a fuel cell are electricity, heat and water. There are no emissions of pollutants that can cause global warming. Yet the energy unleashed is powerful: Hydrogen is the fuel that sends NASA rockets into space.

So fuel cells could be used to power cars, trains, buses, trucks and forklifts, and to provide electricity and heat for homes.

Detroit-based General Motors Co., Mercedes-Benz of Germany, Japan's Honda Motor Co. and Hyundai of South Korea have also developed fuel cell vehicles that are on the roads in extremely limited numbers.

The global stock of electric vehicles will soon surpass 2 million, according to the International Energy Agency. It's projected to climb to between 9 million-20 million by 2020. Fuel cell vehicles are scarcely a presence.

The Hydrogen Council, made up of 28 companies that are promoting hydrogen fuel, said in a report this week that it expects hydrogen to power about 10 to 15 million cars and 500,000 trucks by 2030. It also forecasts it will be widely used for industries, heating and power and power storage.

The group met this week in Bonn, on the sidelines of the COP23 U.N. meeting on the environment.

Joseph Capparella, a reporter from Car and Driver magazine covered Toyota's concept fuel cell vehicle at the Tokyo Motor Show last month.

He says the concept seems "possible" if the costs are reduced and the technology can be mass produced.

"So, you know, it seems to be possible if it could be streamlined into a more affordable and mass producible technology then, it might be able to catch on but it's hard to say because our society is so deeply entrenched in, what we already know, which is gasoline and electric. So, to enact such a broad shift in the mind of consumers, I think it's a difficult obstacle," says Capparella.

Toyota and other manufacturers pursuing hydrogen fuel cells face some significant hurdles. Japan has an ample 28,000 EV (electric vehicle) charging stations but only 92 hydrogen fuelling stations, and they are costly to build.

"Hydrogen society is something all the players need to work together in order to create it. So, it will need lots of fathers and mothers," says Uchiyamada.

For many automakers, fuel cells are an area just for research, while EVs already are commercialised.

But Toyota's push towards hydrogen power could drive the technology to one day become mainstream.

Toyota city, Aichi Prefecture, Japan – 30 October 2017

1. Wide of hydrogen tank being placed into Mirai vehicle on assembly line

2. Close of workers fixing the tank

Tokyo, Japan – 18 November 2014

3. Various of the first model of Mirai on test run

4. Various of the display of how hydrogen works inside Mirai

Toyota city, Aichi Prefecture, Japan – 30 October 2017

5. Wide of Takeshi Uchiyamada looking at manufacturing process of Mirai

6. Close of the shirt of a worker, reading: (English) "Challenge Zero Emission 2050"

7. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman, Toyota Motor Corp.:

"Upon thinking of what will become the energy of the future, we have been debating both within Japan and internationally about what kind of energy should be our option. There are two main points we need to consider. First, how to realize a low-carbon society to create a society with less CO2 emissions. The second point is to ensure a stable energy supply for the future. In this light, hydrogen holds tremendous potential."

8. Wide of hydrogen tank being towed inside the plant

9. Mid of hydrogen tank being filled

10. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman, Toyota Motor Corp.: ++audio as incoming++

"It (Hydrogen FCV) certainly has more convenience for users (in comparison to electric vehicles), meaning driving range is much longer and there is not much of difference in time to fill in hydrogen with the conventional gasoline cars. I think that is one of the major features (for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles)."

Tokyo, Japan – 25 October 2017

11. Setup shot of Joseph Capparella, Car and Driver magazine

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Joseph Capparella, Car and Driver magazine:

"I think it will depend a lot on if automakers are able to get the cost down because right now the technology is very expensive and difficult to develop. But, I think it's in its early stages. So, you know, it seems to be possible if it could be streamlined into a more affordable and mass producible technology then, it might be able to catch on but it's hard to say because our society is so deeply entrenched in, what we already know, which is gasoline and electric. So, to enact such a broad shift in the mind of consumers, I think it's a difficult obstacle."

Toyota city, Aichi Prefecture, Japan – 30 October 2017

13. Assembly line worker

14. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman, Toyota Motor Corp.

"Hydrogen society is something all the players need to work together in order to create it. So, it will need lots of fathers and mothers."

Tokyo, Japan – 14 November 2017

15. Various of Mirai being filled up at Hydrogen station

LEADIN:

Toyota is banking on hydrogen fuel cells to achieve its goal of zero-emissions by 2050.

While electric vehicles that run on batteries are best suited for short urban commutes, Toyota believes hydrogen is the more practical energy choice of the future.

STORYLINE:

At the Motomachi car factory in this city named after Toyota, the usual robots with their swinging arms are missing.

Instead, workers intently fit parts into place by hand with craftsmanship-like care.

The big moment on the assembly line comes when bulbous yellow tanks of hydrogen are rolled over and delicately fitted into each car's underside.

While much of the world is going gung-ho for electric vehicles to help get rid of auto emissions and end reliance on fossil fuels, Japan's top automaker Toyota Motor Corp. is banking on hydrogen.

Toyota sells about 10 million vehicles a year around the world. It has sold only about 4,000 Mirai fuel cell vehicles since late 2014, roughly half of them outside Japan.

The Mirai, which means "future," is not cheap at 57,500 US dollars but Toyota loses money on each one. Still, the company's goal is to sell 30,000 fuel-cell vehicles a year by about 2020.

Toyota's chairman, Takeshi Uchiyamada, believes hydrogen is an ideal, stable fuel for a future low-carbon society.

"Upon thinking of what will become the energy of the future, we have been debating both within Japan and internationally about what kind of energy should be our option. There are two main points we need to consider. First, how to realize a low-carbon society to create a society with less CO2 emissions. The second point is to ensure a stable energy supply for the future. In this light, hydrogen holds tremendous potential," says Uchiyamada, known as "the father of the Prius," the world's top-selling hybrid car.

The Prius turned out to be a good bet for Toyota. The Mirai could be the same.

Hydrogen fuel cells don't suffer from limited range drawbacks of many electric vehicles. The Mirai can run for 312 miles (502 kilometers) per fuelling, under U.S. EPA conditions, and fuels as quickly as a regular car.

"It (Hydrogen FCV) certainly has more convenience for users (in comparison to electric vehicles), meaning driving range is much longer and there is not much of difference in time to fill in hydrogen with the conventional gasoline cars. I think that is one of the major features (for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles)," says Uchiyamada.

A fuel cell mixes hydrogen with the oxygen in the air to generate electricity that can power a motor.

Producing the highly flammable gas and getting it into the vehicles requires energy. Ultimately, the idea is to convert energy from renewables like wind and solar power into hydrogen, or even make hydrogen from sewage waste.

Unlike a gas-powered internal combustion engine, the only byproducts from a fuel cell are electricity, heat and water. There are no emissions of pollutants that can cause global warming. Yet the energy unleashed is powerful: Hydrogen is the fuel that sends NASA rockets into space.

So fuel cells could be used to power cars, trains, buses, trucks and forklifts, and to provide electricity and heat for homes.

Detroit-based General Motors Co., Mercedes-Benz of Germany, Japan's Honda Motor Co. and Hyundai of South Korea have also developed fuel cell vehicles that are on the roads in extremely limited numbers.

The global stock of electric vehicles will soon surpass 2 million, according to the International Energy Agency. It's projected to climb to between 9 million-20 million by 2020. Fuel cell vehicles are scarcely a presence.

The Hydrogen Council, made up of 28 companies that are promoting hydrogen fuel, said in a report this week that it expects hydrogen to power about 10 to 15 million cars and 500,000 trucks by 2030. It also forecasts it will be widely used for industries, heating and power and power storage.

The group met this week in Bonn, on the sidelines of the COP23 U.N. meeting on the environment.

Joseph Capparella, a reporter from Car and Driver magazine covered Toyota's concept fuel cell vehicle at the Tokyo Motor Show last month.

He says the concept seems "possible" if the costs are reduced and the technology can be mass produced.

"So, you know, it seems to be possible if it could be streamlined into a more affordable and mass producible technology then, it might be able to catch on but it's hard to say because our society is so deeply entrenched in, what we already know, which is gasoline and electric. So, to enact such a broad shift in the mind of consumers, I think it's a difficult obstacle," says Capparella.

Toyota and other manufacturers pursuing hydrogen fuel cells face some significant hurdles. Japan has an ample 28,000 EV (electric vehicle) charging stations but only 92 hydrogen fuelling stations, and they are costly to build.

"Hydrogen society is something all the players need to work together in order to create it. So, it will need lots of fathers and mothers," says Uchiyamada.

For many automakers, fuel cells are an area just for research, while EVs already are commercialised.

But Toyota's push towards hydrogen power could drive the technology to one day become mainstream.

Toyota city, Aichi Prefecture, Japan – 30 October 2017

1. Wide of hydrogen tank being placed into Mirai vehicle on assembly line

2. Close of workers fixing the tank

Y

Tokyo, Japan – 18 November 2014

3. Various of the first model of Mirai on test run

4. Various of the display of how hydrogen works inside Mirai

Toyota city, Aichi Prefecture, Japan – 30 October 2017

5. Wide of Takeshi Uchiyamada looking at manufacturing process of Mirai

6. Close of the shirt of a worker, reading: (English) "Challenge Zero Emission 2050"

7. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman, Toyota Motor Corp.:

"Upon thinking of what will become the energy of the future, we have been debating both within Japan and internationally about what kind of energy should be our option. There are two main points we need to consider. First, how to realize a low-carbon society to create a society with less CO2 emissions. The second point is to ensure a stable energy supply for the future. In this light, hydrogen holds tremendous potential."

8. Wide of hydrogen tank being towed inside the plant

9. Mid of hydrogen tank being filled

10. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman, Toyota Motor Corp.: ++audio as incoming++

"It (Hydrogen FCV) certainly has more convenience for users (in comparison to electric vehicles), meaning driving range is much longer and there is not much of difference in time to fill in hydrogen with the conventional gasoline cars. I think that is one of the major features (for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles)."

Tokyo, Japan – 25 October 2017

11. Setup shot of Joseph Capparella, Car and Driver magazine

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Joseph Capparella, Car and Driver magazine:

"I think it will depend a lot on if automakers are able to get the cost down because right now the technology is very expensive and difficult to develop. But, I think it's in its early stages. So, you know, it seems to be possible if it could be streamlined into a more affordable and mass producible technology then, it might be able to catch on but it's hard to say because our society is so deeply entrenched in, what we already know, which is gasoline and electric. So, to enact such a broad shift in the mind of consumers, I think it's a difficult obstacle."

Toyota city, Aichi Prefecture, Japan – 30 October 2017

13. Assembly line worker

14. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman, Toyota Motor Corp.

"Hydrogen society is something all the players need to work together in order to create it. So, it will need lots of fathers and mothers."

Tokyo, Japan – 14 November 2017

15. Various of Mirai being filled up at Hydrogen station

LEADIN:

Toyota is banking on hydrogen fuel cells to achieve its goal of zero-emissions by 2050.

While electric vehicles that run on batteries are best suited for short urban commutes, Toyota believes hydrogen is the more practical energy choice of the future.

STORYLINE:

At the Motomachi car factory in this city named after Toyota, the usual robots with their swinging arms are missing.

Instead, workers intently fit parts into place by hand with craftsmanship-like care.

The big moment on the assembly line comes when bulbous yellow tanks of hydrogen are rolled over and delicately fitted into each car's underside.

While much of the world is going gung-ho for electric vehicles to help get rid of auto emissions and end reliance on fossil fuels, Japan's top automaker Toyota Motor Corp. is banking on hydrogen.

Toyota sells about 10 million vehicles a year around the world. It has sold only about 4,000 Mirai fuel cell vehicles since late 2014, roughly half of them outside Japan.

The Mirai, which means "future," is not cheap at 57,500 US dollars but Toyota loses money on each one. Still, the company's goal is to sell 30,000 fuel-cell vehicles a year by about 2020.

Toyota's chairman, Takeshi Uchiyamada, believes hydrogen is an ideal, stable fuel for a future low-carbon society.

"Upon thinking of what will become the energy of the future, we have been debating both within Japan and internationally about what kind of energy should be our option. There are two main points we need to consider. First, how to realize a low-carbon society to create a society with less CO2 emissions. The second point is to ensure a stable energy supply for the future. In this light, hydrogen holds tremendous potential," says Uchiyamada, known as "the father of the Prius," the world's top-selling hybrid car.

The Prius turned out to be a good bet for Toyota. The Mirai could be the same.

Hydrogen fuel cells don't suffer from limited range drawbacks of many electric vehicles. The Mirai can run for 312 miles (502 kilometers) per fuelling, under U.S. EPA conditions, and fuels as quickly as a regular car.

"It (Hydrogen FCV) certainly has more convenience for users (in comparison to electric vehicles), meaning driving range is much longer and there is not much of difference in time to fill in hydrogen with the conventional gasoline cars. I think that is one of the major features (for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles)," says Uchiyamada.

A fuel cell mixes hydrogen with the oxygen in the air to generate electricity that can power a motor.

Producing the highly flammable gas and getting it into the vehicles requires energy. Ultimately, the idea is to convert energy from renewables like wind and solar power into hydrogen, or even make hydrogen from sewage waste.

Unlike a gas-powered internal combustion engine, the only byproducts from a fuel cell are electricity, heat and water. There are no emissions of pollutants that can cause global warming. Yet the energy unleashed is powerful: Hydrogen is the fuel that sends NASA rockets into space.

So fuel cells could be used to power cars, trains, buses, trucks and forklifts, and to provide electricity and heat for homes.

Detroit-based General Motors Co., Mercedes-Benz of Germany, Japan's Honda Motor Co. and Hyundai of South Korea have also developed fuel cell vehicles that are on the roads in extremely limited numbers.

The global stock of electric vehicles will soon surpass 2 million, according to the International Energy Agency. It's projected to climb to between 9 million-20 million by 2020. Fuel cell vehicles are scarcely a presence.

The Hydrogen Council, made up of 28 companies that are promoting hydrogen fuel, said in a report this week that it expects hydrogen to power about 10 to 15 million cars and 500,000 trucks by 2030. It also forecasts it will be widely used for industries, heating and power and power storage.

The group met this week in Bonn, on the sidelines of the COP23 U.N. meeting on the environment.

Joseph Capparella, a reporter from Car and Driver magazine covered Toyota's concept fuel cell vehicle at the Tokyo Motor Show last month.

He says the concept seems "possible" if the costs are reduced and the technology can be mass produced.

"So, you know, it seems to be possible if it could be streamlined into a more affordable and mass producible technology then, it might be able to catch on but it's hard to say because our society is so deeply entrenched in, what we already know, which is gasoline and electric. So, to enact such a broad shift in the mind of consumers, I think it's a difficult obstacle," says Capparella.

Toyota and other manufacturers pursuing hydrogen fuel cells face some significant hurdles. Japan has an ample 28,000 EV (electric vehicle) charging stations but only 92 hydrogen fuelling stations, and they are costly to build.

"Hydrogen society is something all the players need to work together in order to create it. So, it will need lots of fathers and mothers," says Uchiyamada.

For many automakers, fuel cells are an area just for research, while EVs already are commercialised.

But Toyota's push towards hydrogen power could drive the technology to one day become mainstream.

Toyota city, Aichi Prefecture, Japan – 30 October 2017

1. Wide of hydrogen tank being placed into Mirai vehicle on assembly line

2. Close of workers fixing the tank

Y

Tokyo, Japan – 18 November 2014

3. Various of the first model of Mirai on test run

4. Various of the display of how hydrogen works inside Mirai

Toyota city, Aichi Prefecture, Japan – 30 October 2017

5. Wide of Takeshi Uchiyamada looking at manufacturing process of Mirai

6. Close of the shirt of a worker, reading: (English) "Challenge Zero Emission 2050"

7. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman, Toyota Motor Corp.:

"Upon thinking of what will become the energy of the future, we have been debating both within Japan and internationally about what kind of energy should be our option. There are two main points we need to consider. First, how to realize a low-carbon society to create a society with less CO2 emissions. The second point is to ensure a stable energy supply for the future. In this light, hydrogen holds tremendous potential."

8. Wide of hydrogen tank being towed inside the plant

9. Mid of hydrogen tank being filled

10. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman, Toyota Motor Corp.: ++audio as incoming++

"It (Hydrogen FCV) certainly has more convenience for users (in comparison to electric vehicles), meaning driving range is much longer and there is not much of difference in time to fill in hydrogen with the conventional gasoline cars. I think that is one of the major features (for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles)."

Tokyo, Japan – 25 October 2017

11. Setup shot of Joseph Capparella, Car and Driver magazine

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Joseph Capparella, Car and Driver magazine:

"I think it will depend a lot on if automakers are able to get the cost down because right now the technology is very expensive and difficult to develop. But, I think it's in its early stages. So, you know, it seems to be possible if it could be streamlined into a more affordable and mass producible technology then, it might be able to catch on but it's hard to say because our society is so deeply entrenched in, what we already know, which is gasoline and electric. So, to enact such a broad shift in the mind of consumers, I think it's a difficult obstacle."

Toyota city, Aichi Prefecture, Japan – 30 October 2017

13. Assembly line worker

14. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman, Toyota Motor Corp.

"Hydrogen society is something all the players need to work together in order to create it. So, it will need lots of fathers and mothers."

Tokyo, Japan – 14 November 2017

15. Various of Mirai being filled up at Hydrogen station

The new car on the market.

The world's largest automaker says it aims to sell up to 400-thousand units globally a year of the new-look Prius.

Akio Toyoda, the grandson of the company's founder, and the incoming president of Toyota Motor Corporation, drove the new model onto a stage at a packed Tokyo showroom.

He said the car was eco-friendly and that driving it had a similar impact on emission cuts as planting trees "across land 10 times the size of Tokyo".

Toyoda, 53, was tapped in January to take the helm at the world's biggest automaker, the first time in 14 years it has turned to the charisma of its founding roots for top leadership, mainly to bring employees and affiliates together and steer the automaker through deep troubles.

Both Toyoda's presence and new Prius are symbolic of Toyota Motor Corporation's pursuit of a turnaround from its worst annual loss since its 1937 founding.

The Prius, now in its third generation since its 1997 introduction, is the best-selling hybrid in the world, racking up a cumulative 1.256 (m) million units sold in more than 40 nations and regions.

But now Toyota faces a challenge from Honda Motor Co., whose more cheaply priced Insight has sold briskly since it was introduced in Japan in February.

In April, the Insight ranked as the top-selling vehicle in Japan, the first time a hybrid clinched that spot.

Toyota said its Japan prices for the Prius would start at 2.05 (m) million yen, or about 21,600 US dollars at current exchange rates, less than its predecessor model.

But in an unusual move aimed at competing against the Insight, Toyota also said it will continue to sell the current Prius in Japan, and cut its price.

It targets rental and corporate customers, and will sell for 1.89 (m) million yen, the same price as the Insight.

Toyota had already given the US prices for the 2010 Prius, starting at 22,000 US dollars, unchanged from the base price for the 2009 model.

It is also promising a more basic US model as well for later this year starting at 21,000 US dollars.

The new Prius gets a combined 50 miles per gallon (mpg), compared with 46 mpg for the 2009 model, according to Toyota.

Toyota is promising 38 kilometres per litre, which converts to 90 miles per gallon, in Japan, for the latest Prius.

Toshio Aritake, an auto analyst at the showroom in Tokyo called the Prius "very competitive."

SHOTLIST

Tokyo, May 18th

1. Zoom out from Prius logo to hybrid car, incoming president of Toyota Motor Corporation getting out of it and walking out on podium

2. Photographers

3. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Akio Toyoda, Incoming president of Toyota Motor Corporation:

"We contribute to ecology as it (Prius) has the same impact on emission cuts as planting trees would across land 10 times the size of Tokyo."

4. Auto analyst Toshio Aritake standing by car

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Toshio Aritake, Auto analyst:

"I think it's going to be very, very competitive in terms of pricing and whatever it has to offer. I haven't seen the inside yet. But it looks extremely competitive, and that's something no other manufacturers at this time can match in terms of quality and pricing."

6. Close of hybrid logo

7. Wide of new Prius car

8. Close up of new Prius car's bonnet

9. Close of Toyota logo with hybrid synergy drive panel

10. Engine

LEADIN

Toyota has rolled out the revamped Prius in Tokyo.

The company's in confident mood, saying it already has 80-thousand advance orders in Japan for the remodelled hybrid, amid intensifying competition with Honda's rival offering the Insight.