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.
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With the Mirai, is Toyota losing money?
Before the government tax incentives reduce the price by more than $10,000, Toyota offers this Mirai for $66,000. And Toyota undoubtedly loses money on each and every one of them that it sells. Toyota offers a $15,000 prepaid debit card to help with the cost of hydrogen, so that explains some of it.
What is the lifespan of a Toyota Mirai?
The astounding EPA-estimated driving range of the new 2022 Toyota Mirai is achieved by fusing hydrogen with oxygen from ambient air. The hydrogen fuel tank that interacts with the air entering through the grille is at the center of the new Toyota Mirai 2022. From here, it flows to the fuel cell stack, where oxygen from the intake and hydrogen undergo a chemical reaction to produce electricity. This produces the power required to move the new Toyota Mirai in 2022. The new 2022 Toyota Mirai XLE and 2022 Toyota Mirai Limited both feature EPA-estimated driving ranges of up to 402 miles and 357 miles, respectively. Just consider how far you could go with a full tank. How far will you travel and where will you go?
How long is the Mirai battery good for?
How frequently should a 2022 Toyota Mirai battery be changed? Every 3 to 5 years, however, you should have your battery checked regularly for sharp voltage drops to ensure it’s performing at a reliable level. Unless you have a high-performance battery, car batteries typically carry 12 to 13 volts.
How trustworthy is Mirai?
There are currently only a few Mirais on UK roads, therefore there is no possibility for them to place in our sister publication Auto Express’ Driver Power customer satisfaction poll. The Mirai, however, has a lot in common with the incredibly tried-and-true Prius in terms of engineering, and Toyota often performs quite well in the poll. Toyota maintained this trend in the 2020 survey, placing a strong 6th overall.
The fuel cell itself is the only component that is truly novel, but Toyota has been working on this technology for 20 years and claims to have made considerable advancements in terms of service life, to the point where the fuel cells would outlast the automobiles without noticeably losing performance.
What is the price of a tank of Mirai fuel?
The price of one kilogram of hydrogen gas is roughly $16. However, Toyota provides hydrogen gas cards with a $15,000 value to every Mirai owner. You won’t have to pay for roughly three years’ worth of hydrogen gas thanks to Toyota!
How is a Toyota Mirai refilled?
The best way to refuel at a hydrogen station
- Just as you would with gasoline, open the hydrogen fuel port.
- Take the hose out of the gas station and place it in the gasoline port.
- To “lock on” to the fuel port, merely squeeze the hose once.
- Pay at the gas station, then press “start” to start the fuelling process.
What is the price of refueling 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:
Toyota Mirai
Since the Japanese word for the Mirai is “the future,” Toyota has certainly got huge plans for it. Its svelte and fashionable appearance complements its superb handling, but it is expensive and scarce; just 15 will be made available in the UK in 2020, with prices starting at 65,000 before the Government’s subsidy of 3,500 for ultra-low emission vehicles.
Honda Clarity
Clarity obviously refers to the fact that Honda’s first fuel-cell car emits no pollutants, but this isn’t the only advantage it has. The Clarity has enticingly quick performance, top-notch engineering, a wide range, and comfort. Sadly, it isn’t even available for leasing in the UK yet.
Hyundai Nexo
The Nexo, which is a follow-up to the Hyundai ix35 FCEV, has a fantastic assured range of 414 miles, with even longer distances being conceivable due to regenerative braking. For a whopping 68,000, you’d think that at the very least it can filter the air surrounding it, according to the South Korean maker.
Mercedes-Benz GLC F-Cell
Mercedes’ initial attempt at an FCEV, the GLC F-Cell, seems promising so far. With 4.4kg of hydrogen stored in the tank, it boasts a 478km range and a potent 155kWh output. The most significant factor is that 90% less platinum has been utilized, which might make it very economical.
BMW hydrogen X5
The X5, which is expected to go into production in 2022, will feature a total power of 368 bhp, 6 kg of hydrogen in its dual H-tanks, and regenerative braking to support the battery. According to reports, refueling takes three to four minutes, thus this might be a highly competitive service in the future.
Has Toyota made a mistake with the Mirai and hydrogen?
Although continuing the search past 2010 was a mistake, the initial wager on hydrogen was not. The Toyota Mirai, meanwhile, was a blunder from the start till its unavoidable demise. It has been on life support for a while now. Toyoto will eventually cut the power.
Why are automobiles powered by hydrogen flawed?
Electrical shock and fuel combustibility are the two main risks associated with fuel cell and hydrogen-powered cars. Fuel cells convert the hydrogen gas (H2) and oxygen (O2) in the air into water (H20) and electrical energy through an electrochemical reaction.
What drawbacks come with driving a hydrogen vehicle?
- High prices for new vehicles
- elevated depreciation
- Charger issues could arise.
- Lack of infrastructure for hydrogen-powered vehicles
- limited number of vehicle options
- Technology is still developing.
- Large R&D expenditures are required.
- hefty fuel prices
- safety issues
- Making hydrogen could not be environmentally favorable.
In addition to a scarcity of gas stations, many auto repair businesses also lack the expertise necessary for repairs and maintenance because most mechanics are still getting to know this relatively new technology.
As a result, if you experience problems with your hydrogen engine, it could be difficult for you to locate a mechanic.
Why aren’t hydrogen cars more widely used?
The panels aren’t free, and neither are they inexpensive to purchase or install. Hydrogen Fuel Vehicles are doomed to failure. Fuel stations are losing money, therefore there is little motivation for them to buy infrastructure privately. You would need 120,000 in the US, which will never come from the government, to bring them up to pace with ICE.
Are hydrogen vehicles superior to electric ones?
In addition to having longer ranges than electric cars, hydrogen cars also refill significantly more quickly. Renault vehicles like the Kangoo Z.E. Hydrogen and Master Z.E. Hydrogen, for instance, have range-extender fuel cells that can go more than 350 kilometers on a single charge and only take 5 to 10 minutes to fully recharge.
Why can I only buy a Mirai in California?
Toyota today produces a variety of electrical vehicles, from hybrids and plug-in hybrids to pure battery electrics and the hydrogen fuel cell Mirai, 23 years after the Prius hit the market. All of the company’s automobiles will be available in electric form by the year 2025. The automaker hopes the new Mirai will aid in achieving its goal of 25% of U.S. sales coming from EVs, which it has set for itself over a five-year period.
The chicken and egg issue with hydrogen fuel cell vehicles is similar to that with battery electric vehicles. Although there aren’t many hydrogen refueling stations, without them automakers have been slow to create hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
Hydrogen stations are still few and far between when compared to petrol stations, but that is beginning to change. California presently has the most public hydrogen stations of any state with 43. By the summer of 2022, another 21 are anticipated to be operational, including seven stations from the fuel supplier Iwatani in Southern California that will start to operate this summer.
The 2021 Mirai will only be offered in Los Angeles and San Francisco when it goes on sale this month due to the relative quantity of hydrogen stations in California. However, Toyota is offering 21 days of free rental automobiles for journeys that may depart from regions with easy access to hydrogen fuel. Additionally, the business will give out three years’ worth of hydrogen fuel.
Why would someone pick a hydrogen fuel cell car over a battery-powered one? The upfront cost of hydrogen fuel cell EVs is more in line with a comparable gas-powered vehicle because to the free fuel, a $4,500 rebate from the California Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, and a $8,000 federal tax credit.
Eight percent of Americans live in apartments, where they would not have access to EV chargers. They can instead refill at a public hydrogen station, which takes five minutes to fill up like a petrol station.
Moreover, wildfires. Hydrogen is still available because to its independence from the grid, even though California experiences a perpetual wildfire season that occasionally forces utilities to take preventative measures like shutting down.
Any new technology must outperform the one it aims to replace in order to be successful. Toyota makes a strong argument for hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles with the 2021 Mirai that just might rescue the company from obscurity.