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The new Subaru Stella plug-in isn't the only Japanese green car making its debut next month at the G8 conference in Hokkaido. Suzuki's in the game as well with a new hydrogen fuel cell version of its SX4 crossover, the SX4-FCV. Fitted with a fuel cell supplied by GM, and a 70 MPa (10,000 psi) storage tank for the H₂, the SX4-FCV has a maximum operating range of 250 kilometers and a top speed of 120 km/h (around 75 mph). Power output from the fuel cell is rated at 80 kW, while the motor delivers 68 kW. Road testing has been approved by Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and transport, and will commence soon.

[Source: Suzuki]

Subaru has cooked up another electric kei car for me to park in my fantasy green garage, right next to the R1e and Mitsubishi i MiEV I don't currently have. It's a plug-in concept version of the Stella, and it will make its formal debut at next month's G8 summit in Hokkaido, Japan. Five of the cars will be on hand at the conference -- four to shuttle folks hither and to, and one on static display as part of the on-site Environmental Showcase

The electric powertrain is the same one Subaru uses in its R1e demonstrator -- permanent magnet synchronous motor with a maximum power output of 40 kW powered by a lithium ion battery pack. Operating range on a full charge is 80 kilometers, and the cars have a top speed of 100 km/h (62 mph). The plug-in Stella is an advance over the 2-seat R1e in that, like Mitsubishi's i MiEV, its wagonoid body is a far more practical package overall.

[Source: Subaru]

For the upcoming G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit in northern Japan in early July, a lot of advanced technology vehicles will be on display and used to move officials and dignitaries (oh, and media representatives) around. Honda is the latest to announce their starting lineup, and it includes the hydrogen fuel cell-powered FCX Clarity (above) and nine Civic hybrids. Don't care about Honda's wheeled inventions? Then spend time with ASIMO humanoid robot and some CIGS thin solar cells, both of which will be at the Environmental Showcase during the summit. More details on these two items after the jump.

Other vehicles that will be showcased and used at the summit are the Nissan X-Trail diesel, ten Mitsubishi iMiEVs, and 78 hybrid and hydrogen vehicles from Toyota.

When the leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) industrialized nations get together in Hokkaido Japan next month for their annual sit-down, Toyota will be on hand to provide transportation (Mitsubishi, too). Toyota will offer up a fleet of 78 vehicles for official use during the event. Along with 11 LS600h hybrid luxury sedans, they will provide 15 Crown hybrids, 43 Estima hybrid minivans, and 5 fuel cell-powered FCHV buses. With environmental issues being at the top of the agenda for the gathering, Toyota wanted to make sure officials and media got around in the cleanest transportation available.

An environmental showcase will be taking place in conjunction with the summit. Toyota will be conducting ride and drives one of the prototype plug-in Priuses one of the new FCHV-adv Highlanders and a pair of i-Real single seaters. Toyota will also be offering up the hybrid fleet for a pair conferences this month in other parts of the country.

[Source: Toyota]