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 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.
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?
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.
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!
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.
How trustworthy is a Toyota Mirai?
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.
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.
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.
What is the price of a gallon of hydrogen fuel?
Although hydrogen fuel is four times more expensive than gasoline and about $16 per gallon, it is far more efficient than gasoline.
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.
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 is fuel made of hydrogen so expensive?
The majority of hydrogen utilized in the United States is generated on-site or nearby, often at sizable industrial facilities. It is still necessary to build the infrastructure for supplying hydrogen to the vast national network of fuelling stations needed for the widespread deployment of fuel cell electric vehicles. Building out these distribution networks is the primary objective of the initial rollout for vehicles and stations, which is predominantly done in southern and northern California.
Currently, there are three ways to deliver hydrogen:
Pipeline: This method is the least expensive for delivering large amounts of hydrogen, but it has a limited capacity due to the fact that there are only 1,600 miles of hydrogen transport pipes in the United States at the moment. These pipelines are situated close to significant chemical and petroleum refineries in Illinois, California, and the Gulf Coast.
High-Pressure Tube Trailers: High-Pressure Tube Trailers are expensive and are often used for transporting compressed hydrogen gas over lengths of 200 miles or fewer by truck, railway, ship, or barge.
Cryogenic liquefaction is a technique that cools hydrogen to a temperature where it turns into a liquid, producing liquefied hydrogen tankers. Despite the cost of the liquefaction process, hydrogen may be delivered by truck, railcar, ship, or barge over larger distances more effectively than using high-pressure tube trailers. If the rate of consumption of the liquefied hydrogen is insufficient, it will boil out (or evaporate) from its containment vessels. The distribution and consumption rates of hydrogen must be precisely coordinated as a result.
There are numerous difficulties in developing an infrastructure for hydrogen transport and distribution to thousands of individual fuelling stations in the future. Hydrogen is more expensive to transport, store, and deliver to the place of use than all other fuels because it has a lower energy density per unit volume than all other fuels. The initial capital expenses of constructing a new hydrogen pipeline network are considerable, and the properties of hydrogen create special difficulties in the design of compressors and pipeline materials. However, as hydrogen can be created from a wide range of resources, regional or even local hydrogen production can make the best use of available resources while reducing distribution issues.
Between centralized and dispersed manufacturing, there are trade-offs to take into account. Centralized generation of hydrogen in sizable plants lowers production costs but raises delivery expenses. For instance, producing hydrogen at filling stations reduces distribution costs but raises production costs due to the expense of setting up on-site production facilities.
Research and development initiatives by the government and business are removing the obstacles to effective hydrogen delivery. The Office of Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies has more information about hydrogen delivery.