Chris Hostetter, Toyota Motor Sales Group Vice President, Strategic Resources

Click here for the Hydrogen Station news release

Thank you Julian, Mayor Scotto and everyone for being here today.

Toyota’s hydrogen fuel cell technology has been continually evolving since our first generation fuel cell vehicle hit the road in 2002.

The last nine years have seen continual improvements in range, durability and efficiency while achieving significant cost reductions in materials and manufacturing.

In fact, the vehicle on display today achieved an estimated range of four hundred and thirty-one miles on a single fill of hydrogen.

Fuel cell technology is viable and ready for the mass market.

Toyota plans to bring a fuel cell vehicle to market in 2015, or sooner, and as you see….we will not be alone in the marketplace.

Building an extensive hydrogen re-fueling infrastructure is the critical next step in bringing these products to market.

But infrastructure development is no easy task.

It will require coordination and cooperation between vehicle manufacturers….government agencies….hydrogen producers…and end users.

This station, for example, is the result of years of planning and a truly collaborative effort by Shell, Air Products, Toyota, South Coast Air Quality Management District and the Department of Energy.

I’d like to thank all the partners as well as the City of Torrance for your efforts.

I’d also like to take a moment to recognize a special guest who joins us from Washington D.C.

Ruth Cox is the president and executive director of the fuel cell and hydrogen energy association.

Ruth is a partner and trusted resource for Toyota and the fuel cell industry…and we thank you for supporting us today.

These partnerships are the key to making hydrogen infrastructure a reality…and fuel cell vehicles a viable option for our customers.

This station represents the ultimate way to distribute hydrogen.

The existing pipeline and available, appropriate space, created the perfect opportunity to bring hydrogen fueling to the City of Torrance.

It also created an opportunity for Toyota to explore other uses for hydrogen.

In fact, Toyota has partnered with Ballard Power Systems to place a fuel cell generator on our Torrance campus. The fuel cell will provide electrical power during peak usage months and draw hydrogen from the same pipeline that supplies this station.

The system is scheduled to come online in 2012 and will reduce an estimated 10,000 tons of annual CO2 emissions.

Whether powering a vehicle or lighting our campus.…hydrogen will play a key role in Toyota’s future.

I’d like to thank you again for joining us and encourage you to take a ride in our fuel cell vehicle during the reception.

I’ll now turn it over to Dave Taylor from Air Products.

Thank you!