The Toyota Mirai, also known as MIRAI in Japan and Toyota Mirai in Hepburn, is a mid-size hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (FCV) made by Toyota. It is one of the first FCV vehicles to be mass-produced and offered for sale on a wide scale. [4] [5] At the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2014, the Mirai was presented. [6] Global sales as of December 2021[update] reached 17,940 units. The top three markets in terms of sales were the United States (9,274 units), Japan (6,618), and the rest of the world (2,048 units). [7]
The 2016 model year Mirai has a combined city/highway fuel economy rating of 66 mpgUS (3.6 L/100 km; 79 mpgimp) equivalent (MPG-equivalent), making it the most fuel-efficient hydrogen fuel cell vehicle at the time as well as the one with the longest range according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cycle. Its total range is 502 km (312 mi) on a full tank.
[8] The second-generation Mirai broke the previous record in August 2021 by going 1,360 kilometres (845 mi) with a full tank of 5.65 kg hydrogen. [9]
Sales in Japan started on December 15th at Toyota Store and Toyopet Store locations for 6.7 million (about US$57,400). The Japanese government intends to provide a 2 million yen (about $19,600 USD) subsidy to aid in the commercialization of fuel-cell automobiles. [10] Before any government subsidies, retail sales in the United States started in August 2015 at a cost of US$57,500. In California, deliveries to retail consumers started in October 2015. [11] In the first half of 2016, Toyota planned to introduce the Mirai in the Northeastern States. [12] The Mirai is currently on sale in the UK, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, and Norway for retail prices as of June 2016[update]. [13] German prices begin at 60,000 euros ($75,140) plus VAT (78,540). [14]
In This Article...
How many hydrogen-powered vehicles have been sold globally?
While the majority of analysts and customers focus on the switch from internal combustion to electric vehicles, there is another aspect of the green car tale that is often untold. Inconsistent but intriguing data from hydrogen fuel cell vehicles last year suggests there may be alternatives to battery-electric power.
According to JATO Dynamics’ data, 15,500 units worth of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles were sold globally in 2021. The demand surged by 84 percent in comparison to 2020, when 8,400 fuel-cell vehicles found new owners, despite the fact that it is still extremely tiny in comparison to the sales of other fuel types. The increase above pre-pandemic levels, which is currently at 103 percent, is even more remarkable.
Is buying a Toyota Mirai worthwhile?
The Mirai has a luxuriously smooth ride, a tastefully finished interior, and a sturdy construction. Because of its rear-wheel-drive design and superior weight distribution, it drives through curves with remarkable composure. The Mirai is slightly more expensive than its rivals, and both passenger and cargo space are constrained.
Are vehicles powered by hydrogen returning?
A 300-mile tank of hydrogen now costs about 60, which is significantly more expensive than electric fuel. In addition, a significant portion of the hydrogen sold today is made from the extra carbon created when fossil fuels are burned by using carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies.
The drawbacks of battery-powered EVs should not be disregarded, though. It is unlikely that we will witness significant advancements in battery technology anytime soon despite years of investment. Not to mention that lithium-ion batteries are hefty, making their use in freight and aviation all but unfeasible. Due to ethical mining concerns and high expenses that increase the overall cost of EVs, the metals used to make current batteries, such cobalt and nickel, are particularly problematic.
Although both currently have flaws, there is a lot of interest in developing the technology to electrolyze water to produce hydrogen, ending the dependency on fossil fuels for the creation of hydrogen. To cut costs and hasten the transition, there is consideration of converting natural gas infrastructure for use in hydrogen transportation once this is feasible.
Hyundai recently declared that, as part of its Vision 2040, company plans to introduce hydrogen fuel cell versions of every model of commercial vehicle as early as 2028. The big automaker guarantees its “A new generation of fuel cells will be available in 2023. Additionally, it aims to build a hydrogen FCEV at a cost that is competitive with that of its EV counterpart. This might increase demand for the FCEV, which is now very pricey compared to entry-level EVs.
According to Hyundai, a third-generation fuel cell stack would be available as a result of technological improvement “Power output was doubled, overall package volume was cut by 30%, and prices were reduced by more than 50%.
However, Hyundai is not the only automaker experimenting with cutting-edge new technology as part of its long-term plan for environmentally friendly cars. By 2023, Toyota Motor Corporation expects to start manufacturing fuel cells at its Kentucky facility for use in heavy-duty commercial vehicles and big rigs. In 2022, General Motors also plans to offer gasoline for Navistar as part of an emission-free long-haul pilot program, with a goal of 500 miles of range and a filling time of under 15 minutes.
How many vehicles use hydrogen fuel cells?
Sales and leasing volumes show that there are ever more fuel cell cars available to consumers and on the road. There were 6,558 fuel cell vehicles on the road as of February 2019. It should be emphasized that sales of fuel cell vehicles (including leases) are now only available in a few locations with infrastructure for refilling with hydrogen.
Why is the Mirai priced so low?
The Toyota Mirai is one of only two hydrogen-powered automobiles that are currently being produced, making it relatively special. Although hydrogen technology is by no means new, it has only ever been utilized in concept cars, which makes Mirai a unique automobile.
We must examine every facet of operating and maintaining a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in order to comprehend why the Mirai is so inexpensive (FCV). Even if you have no plans to purchase a Mirai, I urge you to read this article because the concept behind it is both fascinating and ground-breaking.
The simple answer is that the Mirai is affordable due to the significant incentives provided when purchasing a new model, the most popular three-year lease with free fuel, a dearth of charging stations, and some consumer skepticism over the technology.
What is the price to fill up a Mirai?
In a perfect world, refueling a hydrogen car should take about the same amount of time as refueling a gasoline or diesel vehicle. Since the fuel is under pressure (up to 10,000 psi), you must lock the nozzle in place, but after you do that, you should be good to go. The pressure at the station, however, may really drop off momentarily if there are multiple automobiles waiting in line for hydrogen, slowing down everyone. If multiple cars use it in a sequence, the nozzle may also freeze, adhering to the cars and making removal more difficult until it thaws out.
Currently, it can be expensive to fill up a car with hydrogen, in part due to the lack of infrastructure. For instance, refueling the Mirai would run you roughly $90 per throw if you had to pay for it (by the kilogram). However, if all goes according to plan, you can drive around releasing only water, which is a pleasant perk.
Watch Tommy’s video below for additional information on the Mirai and what it’s like to live with it:
In how many US cities are there hydrogen cars?
For a year, Autoweek had a Toyota Mirai fuel cell car. We put about 8000 miles on it at that period and discovered that it has a real-world range of only 250 to 260 miles, considerably less than its EPA range of 310 miles per tankful.
However, the long-term Mirai compelled me to focus on fuel-cell issues more generally, and as a result, I found myself attending the “Hydrogen Stations Webinar: Update on Network Development Status in California,” hosted by the California Fuel Cell Partnership. Here are 10 facts you need to know about the current condition of hydrogen fuel cell automobiles in America, combined with extra research.
According to the California Fuel Cell Partnership, there will be 11,016 fuel cell automobiles on American roads as of August 1, 2021. Out of the nearly 270 million gasoline-powered cars, trucks, and SUVs (plus a few diesel- and battery-powered vehicles), that is. 2018 saw the sale of 1 million pure battery electric automobiles in America. The fuel cell economy is still in its infancy and depends on help from the government and automakers to continue. It is almost minuscule in comparison to the current national fleet, although it is expanding.
California is home to almost all of America’s fuel cell vehicles. In Hawaii, there are a small number. This is due to the fact that, outside of California and the Aloha State, there is no hydrogen fuelling network in the US. Currently, California has 48 hydrogen refueling stations and Hawaii has one. In the Northeastern US, more are under construction, while more are anticipated in the Pacific Northwest.
There are 48 hydrogen fuel cell buses in addition to the 8285 fuel cell automobiles. Given current production rates, a hydrogen fuel cell-powered city bus costs $1.2 million. As orders grow, the price will decrease. If 100 were ordered, the price would be less than $900,000. An electric city bus can cost between $500,000 and $800,000, a natural gas-powered city bus $300,000, a typical old diesel city bus around $250,000, and a diesel electric hybrid bus around $550,000. However, a study by the New York Transit and MTA found that the savings from a zero-emission bus might be as high as $190,000. When you reduce the amount of pollutants in the city, each bus’s health costs are reduced by $150,000, and you also save $39,000 a year on fuel and maintenance.
A few years ago, drivers of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles had it a little tough because of frequent shortages at existing fuel cell stations. Anecdotal surveys, conducted over the course of the previous years by me scanning every station at any one moment, revealed that almost half of the stations had no fuel available. Since then, availability has slightly increased.
The majority of stations receive pressurized gaseous hydrogen, which must be transported to you via a network of vehicles and compressor stations. Future hydrogen stations will be widespread and will provide a greater and more consistent supply of liquid hydrogen. Hydrogen is obviously more readily available for your fuel cell vehicle as more stations are created.
By 2025, there should be 200 hydrogen stations in California, according to the CaFCP. By 2030, a whopping 1000 stations are “envisioned” in the state. There will be an increase in fuel cell automobiles across the nation once filling stations are built in additional states.
Currently, 150200 kilos of hydrogen may be stored at about 80% of hydrogen refueling stations. According to my experience, a regular fill-up requires 3 kg or little more. So, before running out of hydrogen, a typical station can fill up between 50 and 67 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Future stations will have capacities of 500 to 800 kg, or enough for 167 to 267 automobiles, because they will use liquid hydrogen rather than gaseous hydrogen. Some stations may be able to hold 400 automobiles or 1200 kilograms.
Currently, sun, wind, and hydropower account for 33% of the energy used to produce hydrogen. It is intended to raise that percentage.
Around the world, 19 nations have “hydrogen strategies” to promote the use of hydrogen fuel cells domestically. The largest program in Europe, according to the CaFCP, is the H2 Mobility program in Germany, while initiatives are also being carried out in China, Japan, and the rest of the European Union.
You can get a card good for three years of free hydrogen fuel from a number of hydrogen fuel cell vehicle manufacturers. I got one for my Mirai.
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How much does hydrogen fuel cost per gallon?
Although hydrogen fuel is four times more expensive than gasoline and about $16 per gallon, it is far more efficient than gasoline. The cost of a fillup is high even though hydrogen cars, which have electric engines, have cruising ranges that are more than 350 miles longer than any battery-electric and some gas-powered vehicles.
The financial blow has been considerably mitigated by incentives. The state offers a $4,500 clean-car refund, and manufacturers supply refueling cards with three years’ worth of credit put on them. The first year of leasing a hydrogen vehicle, which is what most drivers do instead of buying, is mostly covered by that refund. New hydrogen vehicles cost around $60,000 and don’t come in as many model variants as battery-powered electric vehicles.
Aaron Slavin and his wife, who reside in the Altadena, California, neighborhood of Los Angeles, created a spreadsheet to analyze the benefits and drawbacks of driving a hydrogen-fueled vehicle. They came to the conclusion that keeping a gas-electric hybrid “didn’t pencil out.”
Aaron Slavin refueled his 2017 Toyota Mirai at a one-bay hydrogen pump concealed at a typical gas station in South Pasadena and declared, “I’m a big fan of this car; I preach about them.
Slavin, a producer of performing arts, claimed that because of his employment, lack of frequent commuting, and backup hybrid SUV, he is an ideal fit for the vehicle.
Last year, a fuel manufacturing facility explosion restricted supply for months, leaving some hydrogen stations with empty tanks, leaving some drivers stranded or demanding lengthy treks to alternate stations, making the second car essential. Slavin turned to a smartphone app that offered a real-time inventory of fuel at each station in response to the issue, which some drivers dubbed the “hydropocalypse.”
Although the gasoline issue has been fixed, it prompted a concern. Our lease expires in April, so I really need to consider our options, Slavin added. ” The automobile is nice, however the fuel situation worries me.
Hydrogen energy production has long been an alluring objective. After all, hydrogen is the most common element in the universe, it is lightweight and energy-dense, and when used in transportation, it doesn’t release greenhouse gases but rather little pools of water instead.
But this clean-burning fuel has a carbon history. About 95% of hydrogen fuel is created via an energy-intensive method that relies on methane, the deadliest of the planet-warming gases, even though once it is formed it drives zero-emission electric motors. Because of this, it is challenging for certain environmental organizations to promote hydrogen vehicles.
Director of the Sierra Club in California Kathryn Phillips said, “We need to remove methane out of the system, not create a dependency on creating more. ” The current utilization of state subsidies for hydrogen fuel cells is not the ideal one when seen from an environmental perspective.
Two responses are given by supporters: Why not trap and use the methane that is currently being released unregulated into the environment from landfills and oil and gas plants while the state makes the transition to a zero-carbon economy? Why not switch to a technique that doesn’t use methane and uses the state’s excess solar energy instead, making the manufacturing clean and environmentally friendly?
Hydrogen vehicles can’t compete in a key area: price, while having benefits over battery electrics or gasoline automobiles in terms of quicker filling, less weight, and greater range. The cost of a typical municipal bus could be $450,000. Similar standards for a hydrogen bus cost more like $1 million.
Lewis Fulton, a specialist in transportation at UC Davis, claims that hydrogen “presents numerous separate chicken-and-egg challenges simultaneously.
He asserted that there won’t be more hydrogen fuelling stations until there are more vehicles built and bought. Furthermore, unless there are sufficient gas stations, customers might be concerned about getting stranded and may not feel safe operating the vehicles.
The only solution, according to Fulton, is a really strong policy push. “In the state, there is already one going on, but I’m not sure if it’s big enough.
As part of its ongoing conflict with the Trump administration, which last year took away the state’s jurisdiction to establish its own tailpipe pollution rules, California’s efforts to promote the market for hydrogen cars could be hindered. Car manufacturers who supported looser emissions regulations with the federal government will pay a price by having their vehicles removed from the state’s fleet.
Toyota, which sided with Washington, would be excluded at a time when the business is stepping up its hydrogen program and is anticipated to dramatically increase customer awareness of hydrogen vehicles due to its position as a major multinational automaker.
Supporters played minimized the problem. Eckerle acknowledged that there was an issue. He continued, however, that there has been no sign from automakers that they plan to back out of their commitment to producing hydrogen-powered vehicles.