Toyota bets on hydrogen cars for future
Hydrogen, the future when it comes to vehicle fuel according to many. There is no full commitment to hydrogen cars in the auto industry yet, but Toyota definitely sees a future in it. For instance, Toyota launched the Mirai. In this blog, we take a closer look at hydrogen and the Toyota Mirai.
The Toyota Mirai
Toyota has three versions of this hydrogen car to choose from, the Mirai Dynamic (from €70,195), the Mirai Executive (from €73,695) and the Mirai Prestige (from €79,750). For now we’ll zoom in on the Dynamic, with a range of 650 km you’ll get very far, but that’s just as well given the small number of points to refuel with hydrogen. Within 5 minutes you have a full tank, so you don’t have to wait long.
Toyota’s ambitions and hydrogen
The Toyota Mirai enhances the potential of fuel cell technology. This is just part of Toyota’s vision in Europe, where the Toyota Hydrogen Society is committed to a hydrogen-driven society. This applies not only to vehicles like the Mirai, but also to households heated with hydrogen energy, for example. Toyota is aiming for global environmental protection for future generations.
The future of hydrogen
When it comes to Toyota, the future of motoring is definitely the future. They see ongoing developments when it comes to the hydrogen era. There are many technological advances, for example, fuel cells are slowly becoming commonplace. Although the network of filling stations is small, the number is growing rapidly.
The myths of hydrogen
Filling up takes longer than with a petrol car
This is incorrect, so you spend 3-5 min to fill up your car on hydrogen.
Making hydrogen is expensive and difficult
Producing hydrogen is very simple, so you make it by splitting the molecules of hydrogen and oxygen from water. This is done by using electricity, which is cheap.
Fuel cells will never break through on a large scale because of the price
Since 2007, fuel cell prices have already halved. The number of fuel cells in use is expected to grow rapidly.
Hydrogen is unsafe
The hydrogen storage tanks in the Mirai are made of carbon fibre and tested to the limit. Tanks for diesel and natural gas are as safe as these tanks. Hydrogen filling stations are also safely designed and must comply with strict standards.
