As fuel cell technology advances, expect to see more creations like this one, the Fine-N concept car from Toyota, shown most recently at the Tokyo Motor show. Updated slightly since its 2003 debut in Detroit as the Fine-S, its radical styling boasts four-wheel drive that is exactly that: a lightweight, high-efficiency electric motor powers each wheel. The four in-wheel motors are driven by Toyota's FC Stack Hydrogen fuel cell and lithium-ion battery technology, giving the Fine-N a cruising distance of 310 miles and creating new options for driving performance as well as environmental performance. Each wheel is individually and continuously controlled for optimal wheel-by-wheel acceleration/deceleration according to steering angle, vehicle and road conditions, and other parameters. And if that's not high-tech enough, Fine-N also utilizes a biometric face-recognition system that authenticates the driver for enhanced security, and then automatically personalizes seat position, audio system, climate controls, and other settings.
