In most of our long-term tests, we typically have a laundry list of issues by this stage, but not with the Mirai. Even though the roofline of the Mirai isn’t any lower than the Lexus LS’, some of our friends who are over six feet tall complained and moaned when getting in. (Perhaps they’ve just driven SUVs too much.)
The issue is caused by the large hydrogen tanks, which clutter the inside in unseen ways. The center console is unusually large because one of the three tanks runs down the middle of the vehicle, explaining why the occupant space at leg level is smaller than one might anticipate for a vehicle of this size. The buffer battery of the hybrid design is behind the back seat’s hydrogen tank, which pushes it toward the front row. The Mirai really has less space inside than you’d anticipate given its exterior size, but the shorter staff members aren’t unhappy about it.
Because the third hydrogen tank is located under the trunk, there is less room for luggage (as does the lack of a folding seat backas mentioned above, the battery is in the way). This hasn’t been a problem, though; given the Mirai’s short range and the fact that almost all of the gas stations are located within three cities in California, one wouldn’t typically need to pack this vehicle for a Great American Road Trip. The 9.6 cubic foot trunk has so far proven sufficient for relocating a maiden aunt, a wardrobe full of clothing, and baggage to the airport as well as moving from Orange County to Thousand Oaks.
We haven’t noticed any issues with the quality other than a set of wiper blades that needed to be replaced (for which we blame the blistering summers in the San Fernando Valley). The Mirai is as dependable as we would expect a Toyota to be in the absence of that.
In This Article...
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?
What is the price of a Toyota Mirai’s fill-up?
Some automobiles are pricey to buy, while others are pricey to own. The average price of hydrogen fuel is $16 per kilogram, thus filling up a Toyota Mirai might be rather expensive. Since the Mirai typically holds 5 pounds, your cost would be about $80.
It should be mentioned, nevertheless, that hydrogen fuel is significantly more effective than gasoline. On the interstate, a Mirai can do 71 miles per kilo, and 76 in the city.
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.
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.
The Toyota Mirai’s top speed.
The fuel cell (FC) stack, FC boost converter, and high-pressure hydrogen tanks are among the exclusive Toyota-developed parts of the Mirai’s Toyota Fuel Cell System (TFCS), which combines fuel cell and hybrid technologies. When driven, the TFCS releases no compounds of concern (SOCs) or CO2 at the site of operation, making it more energy-efficient than internal combustion engines. From 0 to 97 km/h (0 to 60 mph), the system accelerates the Mirai in 9.0 seconds, and it provides a passing time of 3 seconds from 40 to 64 km/h (25 to 40 mph). Toyota predicted that the Mirai would have a maximum range of 480 km (300 miles) on a full tank, and refilling takes between 3 and 5 minutes. [40] The H2O button on the Mirai opens a gate at the back of the vehicle, allowing water vapor produced by the hydrogen-oxygen reaction in the fuel cell to escape. [44] 240 mL of water or H2O are released for every 4 km of jogging. [46] [47]
There is some water remaining in the pipes at the destination. The water from the vehicle is pumped through the pipes and out of the car using the H2O button. After traveling for roughly 30 kilometers (20 miles), the process is shown on camera.
The Toyota Mirai uses gasoline, right?
A new era of zero-emission mobility fueled by hydrogen has arrived with the Mirai.
The Japanese word for Mirai is “future,” yet in order for our innovative Toyota Fuel Cell System technology to be a success, it must be appealing to and available to people now. Despite having a cutting-edge drivetrain and utilizing a novel fuel, the Mirai is a typical mid-size, four-door sedan that is just as useful, secure, and simple to operate as a conventionally powered family car.
On a full tank of hydrogen, it will travel as far as a comparable-sized gasoline vehicle, and filling up from empty takes between three and five minutes. The benefits include a quiet, comfortable ride, high performance, and only water vapor emissions from the exhaust.
A interaction between hydrogen and oxygen generates energy in the Toyota Fuel Cell System seen in the Mirai.
In the same way that you purchase gasoline or diesel at a filling station, you refuel with hydrogen fuel. The fuel is kept in high-pressure tanks and pumped into a fuel cell stack, where the air’s hydrogen and oxygen interact to produce electricity.
Similar to a gasoline-electric hybrid, the voltage of the electricity is increased to power the electric motor. Every time the car brakes or slows down, more energy is stored in a battery, which results in even improved fuel efficiency.
We are the first company in the world to provide a system with a power density of 3.1 kW per liter thanks to our decades of research and development in hybrid electric technology.
What drawbacks come with driving a hydrogen vehicle?
- High prices for new vehicles
- elevated depreciation
- Charging may be a concern
- 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 are automobiles powered by hydrogen flawed?
Electrical shock and fuel combustibility are the two main risks associated with fuel cell and hydrogen-powered vehicles. Fuel cells convert the hydrogen gas (H2) and oxygen (O2) in the air into water (H20) and electrical energy through an electrochemical reaction.
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 cars worth the cost?
A hydrogen car has a number of benefits, including the ability to recharge in just five minutes as opposed to the sometimes lengthy charging durations required for battery electric vehicles. Additionally, you don’t need a car charger; instead, you just need a pump, frequently at the same gas station.
Does hydrogen fuel have a lower cost than electric?
Despite being the most prevalent element in the cosmos, hydrogen is not present in its purest form on the Blue Planet. This means that in order to utilize it as fuel for our cars, we must first make it from other substances, such as water, natural gas, other fossil fuels, or biomass. Energy must be needed for this, and there are also financial and environmental implications.
On the one hand, we can cleanly produce hydrogen by reversing the electrolysis of water. The issue is that this energy-intensive method of separating H20 molecules from hydrogen to obtain hydrogen costs a lot of money. The net energy cycle can become very low in carbon, and the process becomes more ecologically benign, if this energy is able to originate from renewable energy sources like the sun or the wind. Another issue is the process’s efficiency, which is only 75% efficient and allows for a 25% loss of electricity.
This is why electrolysis is more expensive than natural gas reforming, which is how most hydrogen fuel is produced today. The drawback is that the process produces toxic byproducts that contribute to global warming, such as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. Methane leaks during the extraction of natural gas are also not uncommon, despite the fact that they are becoming less common. Furthermore, these molecules account for around 25% of the world’s GHG emissions, making them 86 times worse than CO2 in terms of emissions. In addition to having a negative influence on ecosystems and biodiversity, the process of extracting natural gasfrackingcan also taint water and produce small earthquakes.
Will the cost of hydrogen fuel decrease?
Even now, hydrogen is a relatively expensive resource. This may change in the near future (which we will discuss below), but it is not always required to take this step in order to make FCEVs cost-effective. Instead, it can originate from cutting-edge technologies.
Technology developments can increase the effectiveness with which FCEVs use hydrogen fuel. Therefore, a car may travel a considerably greater distance on the same amount of fuel without experiencing any problems.
The use of hydrogen fuel can already be made better mechanically. Regenerative braking systems are one illustration. These devices collect the wasted energy and store it in a battery as opposed to merely allowing the vehicle to exhaust its hydrogen fuel to slow down. This starts to give us a notion of how FCEVs can eventually become practically self-sustaining.
Hydrogen and Geopolitics
By 2025, analysts predicted, hydrogen would be less expensive than natural gas. This would undoubtedly mark the beginning of the use of FCEVs that are economical. Geopolitics, according to reports, would cause hydrogen to become less expensive. Russia limited exports on current routes in an effort to persuade Europe to move through with the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. At the time, it appeared as though Russia’s influence could exert pressure on European nations.
However, over the past few months, the picture has drastically changed. Although the sanctions now in place against Russia may not, in and of themselves, preclude hydrogen prices from declining in the future, Russia’s capacity to sway other nations has significantly decreased.
To put it another way, Europe might have been evaluating the advantages of supporting Russia’s promotion of the Nord Stream 2 project, but it might now become much more wary. Additionally, Russia is unlikely to impose restrictions on its energy exports to nations who are still open to doing business with them or have no choice but to do so.
This could delay the transition to hydrogen fuel as a viable alternative by a few years. Nevertheless, because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the price of all energy sources is increasing, and hydrogen may eventually become less expensive than oil.
As things stand, it is impossible to predict with any degree of certainty when vehicles fueled by hydrogen will be both economical and cost-effective. The good news is that FCEVs are getting closer to being widely used thanks to technology breakthroughs. With climate change a rising worry, the speed of such breakthroughs is being driven ahead so as to avoid global catastrophe.
Over the next few years, we’ll witness some fascinating developments that could all result in the emergence of hydrogen-powered vehicles that save consumers money while protecting the environment.