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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Is it worthwhile to buy a Toyota Mirai?
For the appropriate buyer, a hydrogen fuel cell car like the Mirai can be a fantastic value. The Mirai includes a significant fuel allowance, and the incentives and tax breaks can make leasing or purchasing one much more affordable.
The Toyota Mirai is dependable.
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.
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.
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!
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 price of filling a Mirai with hydrogen?
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.
Can hydrogen fuel cells deteriorate?
Batteries may be recharged similarly to how a gas canister can be replenished, but after several recharge cycles, a battery’s capacity is reduced. On the other hand, a fuel cell and a hydrogen storage container do not deteriorate with time.
Toyota Mirai: Is it entirely electric?
Mirai of the second generation Toyota is prepared to advance zero-emission fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) technology to new heights with the second generation Mirai concept after setting the global standard with its first hydrogen-powered sedan in 2014.
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.
Will the price of hydrogen fuel drop?
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. The rate of these developments is being accelerated in order to prevent a climatic disaster as concern over climate change grows.
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.