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BMW i5 could get Toyota-sourced hydrogen power

It's starting to feel like the automotive landscape is right on the cusp of a boom in hydrogen-fueled vehicles. After all, the Toyota FCV is nearly ready, Volkswagen is readying a fuel cell concept for this week's Los Angeles Auto Show and Hyundai already sells its Tucson Fuel Cell. The next big name to add to that list might be BMW, as the company's co-development deal with Toyota starts to bear fruit.
According to Autocar, BMW may use a version of the fuel cell system from the Toyota FCV in the future i5. As part of its eco-oriented i sub-brand, the i5 is expected to be a stretched version of the i3 (pictured above) with extra rear legroom and cargo space. It's unclear at the moment whether a battery-powered pure electric powertrain will also be available. If accurate, then the rumor could give the Bavarian brand a counterattack against Mercedes-Benz' planned fuel cell vehicle in 2017.
BMW and Toyota first signed the memorandum of understanding to co-develop fuel cells, lightweight technology and a sports car back in 2012, and they made the arrangement official in late 2013. So far, few details on the progress of the work have been disclosed, but the performance model has been rumored to use a front-engine, all-wheel drive layout with supercapacitors.

Recharge Wrap-up: Senators want stronger RFS, Toyota working to improve mobility in Bangkok

A new E15 bill has been introduced to the US House of Representatives. Sponsored by one Democrat and three Republican congressmen, the bill is a companion to the Fuel Choice and Deregulation Act of 2015 recently introduced to the Senate by Rand Paul and Chuck Grassley. The House bill's goal is similar: to remove certain restrictions to help get E15 to the marketplace. This bill also targets the EPA and its rules regarding the Reid Vapor Pressure of the ethanol blend. Read more in from Domestic Fuel. A bipartisan group of 37 senators is urging the EPA to strengthen the Renewable Fuel Standard. Stated reasons tend to focus on economics and energy security, but also on the future of other alternative fuels. The RFS "has strengthened agriculture markets and created hundreds of thousands of jobs in the new energy economy, many of which are in rural areas," the senators say in a letter to the EPA. "A stable RFS will also provide the certainty needed to unlock future investments in renewable fuels and necessary infrastructure, reduce our nation's dependence on foreign sources of energy, and drive innovation and progress toward cellulosic, biodiesel, recycled-waste, algal, and other advanced biofuels." See the full letter at Senator Chuck Grassley's website, and read more at Domestic Fuel. The Toyota Mobility Foundation has launched a pilot program in Bangkok, Thailand. In partnership with Chulalongkorn University, Toyota's program aims to help "people move, grow and explore in a world that is comfortable, safe and clean," says Toyota President Akio Toyoda (traditional rickshaws are pictured above). The program will focus on reducing congestion by creating sustainable shuttle and park and ride services, encouraging people to use multiple modes of transportation, use traffic simulation models to pinpoint particular problem areas and work with police to optimize traffic signals. The Bangkok project is expected to last a year and a half, ending in December 2016. Read more in the press release below. Realizing the Future of Mobility: Toyota Mobility Foundation Launches First Pilot Program in Thailand Program Supports Foundation's Global Mission to Advance Solutions for a More Mobile Society Tokyo, Japan (April 22, 2015) - More people everywhere are about to get moving. Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF) today announced that it is launching its first pilot program.

Daily Driver: 2015 Toyota Yaris SE

Daily Driver videos are micro-reviews of vehicles in the Autoblog press fleet, featuring impressions from the staffers that drive them every day. Today's Daily Driver features the 2015 Toyota Yaris SE Hatchback, reviewed by Sebastian Blanco. You can watch the video above or read a transcript below. Watch more Autoblog videos at /videos. VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: [00:00:00] Hello, everyone. Sebastian Blanco here from Autoblog and AutoblogGreen, with the Daily Driver, this time in the 2015 Toyota Yaris SE Hatchback. It's in a fine blue color called Blue Streak Metallic. This car comes in at just under $17,000, but with all the options and we'll talk about that in a minute, it comes to $18,700. It's rated at 30 miles per gallon in the city, [00:00:30] 37 on the highway, and 33 combined. I've driven it a little over 350 miles this week and the dashboard is reading at 36.8 miles per gallon average, so it definitely gets props for hitting the EPA fuel economy numbers. It has warmed up a little, so we're not operating in the cool Michigan winter that some of my previous cars were, so I gave them a little slack for being under the average. This one right on the money her in the spring time. I do like the [00:01:00] roominess of it. I think it feels great for such a small car. Visibility, you can see everywhere you look. All cars should have this but so few of them do. I like that it's a manual transmission. It's been way too long since I've driven a manual. I do like even this little pocket thing up front here. I haven't put anything in it. I just like that it's there. I don't know, maybe you can put your phone in there or something, but it's cool. The worst part about this though is the infotainment screen here. It is unresponsive. It looks like it's something from Windows 95. [00:01:30] It just acts so weird when it connects to my phone. It connects either via Bluetooth or USB. It's for me, maybe I just haven't had enough time with it, but it's very hit and miss as far as getting my music or my podcast to stream over the vehicle's audio system. The nav system is a $900 upgrade, and given how bad it looks and how bright it is at nighttime, I think an after-market system or even just a mount for your phone is a much, much better deal. Like [00:02:00] I said, this is the base model. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. I'm a big fan of utility, practical, don't get anything extra.