Toyota prepares for hydrogen fuel-cell sedan

Toyota has announced that it is preparing to introduce a hydrogen fuel-cell sedan by 2015, with a retail price of about $50,000.

The automaker believes this sedan will have an advantage over electric cars, as it will have no emissions and the same range and refueling time of a gas-powered car, the Chicago Tribune reports.

While consumers might expect a higher price tag on the innovative vehicle, Toyota representatives have said that the cost of making fuel-cell cars has decreased by about 90 percent in the past 10 years – initially estimates for building a hydrogen fuel-cell car reached $1 million.

“Our target is, we don’t lose money with [the] introduction of the vehicle,” Toyotas managing director for advanced autos, Yoshihiko Masuda, told Bloomberg News. “Production costs should be covered within the price of the vehicle.”

As the technology emerges, some consumers have expressed hesitation in purchasing the new cars, as refueling options for the vehicles seem limited at present.

Drivers currently in the market for a Toyota may note the low expense of used cars. According to Automotive.com, a used four-wheel-drive 2009 Toyota Camry Sedan can sell for as little as $10,675.