Toyota started a hydrogen revolution with its upcoming Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV)

The FCV looks conventional enough, claiming midsize dimensions. Its front end boasts massive gills to help cool the suitcase-sized fuel cell, while its hind quarters feature a number of curves. The production vehicle will be available in black, silver, and metallic blue.

The Toyota FCV is technically an electric vehicle powered by a hydrogen fuel cell stack, so it’s virtually silent.

When asked about the FCV, Toyota's Technical Center engineer Jared Farnsworth said : “A fuel cell is an electro-chemical device, which means there’s no moving parts or anything like that. It takes oxygen from the air, and hydrogen which we store in tanks, and it generates electricity and the only byproduct is water, which comes out the tailpipe. It’s a zero emission electric vehicle, so there’s no burning of oil or gas ... it’s purely electric.”

Among the interesting features engineered into the FCV to make it a production vehicle were refinements to fuel-cell safety systems. If an accident creates cracks in the Toyota-made carbon fiber fuel tanks, their gases are instantly vented.

Fuel cell technology isn't limited to cars; Toyota recently teamed up with Hino Motors to produce a fuel cell bus, so the tech can provide personal mobility as well as mass transportation.