Toyota unveiled its FCV Plus hydrogen-powered electric concept car, the first car designed to wirelessly share power with surrounding vehicles, at the Tokyo Motor Show this week.
The FCV Plus builds on the hydrogen fuel-cell technology the Japanese automaker pioneered in its Mirai production car, adding wireless charging capabilities that would let the FCV Plus to convert the hydrogen stored in its tanks into electricity for other vehicles, or even buildings.
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The concept hydrogen fuel-cell car is driven by four electric motors, one in each of the wheels, which get their power from a fuel stack between the front two. The compressed hydrogen that feeds the stack sits behind the rear seats, just above a downward-facing wireless electric charging port.
The vehicle also features a windshield and rear window that can also be used as display monitors to broadcast words and symbols to other drivers—that they need more power, for example.
The sort of wireless charging infrastructure the FCV Plus would need has not really been built out yet, so it's unlikely that Toyota will bring a car like it market any time soon. Still, it could provide a glimpse into some pretty interesting future automotive tech.
