The all-new Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle launches in Japan on 15 December, before being introduced into the UK and other selected European markets in September 2015.
Mirai – the name means future in Japanese – signals the start of a new age of vehicles. It uses hydrogen, an important future energy source, to generate electric power, delivering better environmental performance while giving customers the convenience and driving pleasure they expect from any car.
You can vote for the Toyota Mirai fuel cell car in the What Car? 2015 Reader Award
Mirai uses the Toyota Fuel Cell System (TFCS), which brings together fuel cell and hybrid propulsion technologies. It includes Toyota’s new, proprietary fuel cell stack and high-pressure hydrogen tanks. The TFCS is more energy efficient that internal combustion engines and emits no CO2 or pollutants when the vehicle is driven. A generous cruising range and a hydrogen refuelling time of around three minutes provide the same level of convenience as a petrol-powered car.
Mirai delivers everything expected of a next-generation car: an immediately recognisable design; an exhilarating drive that stems from the superior handling stability secured by the car’s low centre of gravity; and quiet but powerful acceleration delivered by the electric motor.
Hydrogen has the benefit of being able to be generated from many different natural sources and man-made by products – even sewage sludge. It can also be created from water using natural, renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power. When compressed, it has a higher energy density than batteries and it is relatively easy to store and transport. These qualities give it the potential to be used in the future for power generation and a wide range of other applications. FCVs can generate their own electricity from hydrogen, which means they can be a key contributor to making a future hydrogen-based society a reality and accelerating energy diversification.
The Toyota Mirai will be launched in the UK, Germany and Denmark in September 2015, followed by further national markets in 2017. UK pricing and equipment specification will be announced at a later date. Toyota Mirai is manufactured exclusively at Toyota’s Motomachi plant in Japan.
Click the following links to find out more about the Toyota Mirai.
Toyota Mirai: Environmental performance and convenience
Toyota Mirai: Designed and equipped for safety
Toyota Mirai: Exterior and interior design
Toyota Mirai: Handling stability and outstanding quietness
Toyota Mirai technical specifications vs FCHV-adv
Toyota Mirai: The future has arrived
The car looks amazing but yet again, because of the very high price tag, the ‘normal’ person will not be able to afford it in the UK. In addition, the lack of of recharging stations and, more importantly, the non sighting location in non urban areas will hinder those not living in close proximity to them. This, in turn will mean excessive travel just to recharge and stop people from looking at this system. The UK Government is putting money in but will only do so at a very low speed because if these stations are strategically placed and the ‘masses’ have access to them, they will lose £ millions in revenue so it is not in their interest despite how loud they shout and ‘champion’ this new technology. Until private investment steps in and places a great number of these stations (if they can even get approval) the UK will only have these vehicles for the elite few as a ‘play thing’. I know if I had the finances, I would be putting these all over the UK with a slightly higher emphasis on North and mid Wales and the highlands of Scotland. people visit these places on a regular basis and would NEED reassurance they can refuel without going back to the centre of England every time
Thank you for your post David.
You are correct in the points you make. Infrastructure is very limited at the moment and a lot of time will be required to establish this. However we are working on the basis that if the cars are available now then this can only help stimulate infrastructure growth. Still a long way to go but we do have to start somewhere.