SPY PICS: Lexus LS FCEV

As more and more battery-electric vehicles (EVs) become available in the global marketplace, hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are still struggling to find their feet.

But as these images confirm, that hasn't stopped Toyota's luxury brand, Lexus, from diving into the alternative fuel ring with the Lexus LS FCEV.

The first unofficial photos of the ground-breaking new hydrogen fuel-cell powered Lexus LS limousine were taken in the USA this week.

A prototype version of what our photographers say is the Lexus LS FCEV has been undergoing development for some time in the US, where the Japanese company now appears to be testing it on public roads.

The biggest hurdle for hydrogen FCEVs is refueling infrastructure. There are a small number of public hydrogen fuel stations in the US, Japan and Europe. One hydrogen filling station exploded in Norway in June.

However, there are still no public hydrogen fuel stations in Australia, where Canberra is due to become the first in late 2019.

Wearing Michigan number plates and camouflage wrapping to conceal its design, the large luxury sedan in these photos is flanked by two other FCEVs, the Hyundai NEXO and Toyota Mirai.

Very little of the first Lexus FCEV has been announced, but the luxury Japanese brand did reveal the hydrogen fuel-cell equipped Lexus LF-FC Grand Touring concept at the 2015 Tokyo motor show.

Fitted with a fuel-cell stack at the rear of the vehicle, twin in-wheel motors up front and T-formation hydrogen fuel tanks, the LF-FC was claimed to result in optimal weight distribution and “precise torque distribution control between the front and rear wheels, giving the full-size sedan exceptional dynamic handling and superior road stability”.

The vehicle in the spy photos doesn't look as large or as sleek as the four-door LF-FC ‘coupe’ concept, nor does it have the concept car's long boot section.

Nevertheless, it is expected the car snapped in the US will make use of an advanced version of the Toyota Mirai's hydrogen fuel-cell system to power the rear wheels via a large electric motor, perhaps with a pair of small in-hub electric motors driving the front wheels, making it all-wheel drive.

The Toyota Mirai has been on sale since 2014 and the new Lexus LS FCEV is tipped to deliver much more power and torque than its smaller cousin, which pumps out 113kW and 335Nm.

In order to live up to large luxury saloon expectations, the Lexus LS FCEV would need to dump around 200kW and 500Nm on the rear axle – less if the front wheels are adding more hustle.

The car appears to be production-ready and there are four passengers riding in the large sedan, suggesting the hydrogen-electric Lexus sedan could be ready to rock in late 2020 or early 2021 – pending any technical issues.

Lexus may use the 2019 Tokyo motor show in mid-October to reveal more of its crucial new technology flagship.