Toyota Mirai name confirmed for hydrogen fuel cell car

Toyota_FCV_03

Toyota’s new production hydrogen fuel cell car officially has a name, and it’s the Toyota Mirai, confirming rumours that have been circulating of the car’s name this year.

Mirai is the Japanese word for ‘future’. It looks like a notchback Prius, but it is not a hybrid. It uses an electric motor, but the difference is what powers those motors – not batteries, but hydrogen. The powertrain features Toyota’s proprietary compact and lightweight fuel cell stack and a pair of high-pressure (70mPa) hydrogen tanks, located beneath the four-seater body.

Watch this video where Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda confirms the name. He also reveals that the Mirai will be able to travel up to 300 miles (483 km) on a single tank of hydrogen fuel. You can refuel it in under 5 minutes. It emits only water vapour as part of the fuel cell process.

He also adds that hydrogen as a fuel source can be made from virtually anything, even garbage. Now that definitely sounds like the car of the future – it mmediately reminded me of Doc Brown’s “Mr Fusion” that extracted hydrogen atoms from garbage to power the flux capacitor.

Of course, the Mirai doesn’t have a Mr Fusion – it needs a network of hydrogen stations for refueling. Toyota North America chief executive officer (CEO) Jim Lentz announced it will be working with Air Liquide to develop and supply a phased network of 12 state-of-the-art hydrogen stations targeted for New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.

The states and locations have been strategically selected in the greater New York and Boston areas to provide the backbone of a hydrogen highway for the Northeast corridor. Specific details of the collaboration will be revealed in the coming months.

Toyota also previously announced a US$7.3 million (RM24.4 million) loan to FirstElement Fuels to support the operations and maintenance of 19 hydrogen fueling stations across California.

But that’s just the US – if cars like the Mirai are really set to become the future of automobiles, what about other countries? It will be interesting for us to keep track of the progress of hydrogen cars – stay tuned.

Toyota Fuel Cell Sedan (FCS)

Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.

Certified Pre-Owned - 1 Year Warranty

10% discount when you renew your car insurance

Compare prices between different insurer providers and use the promo code 'PAULTAN10' when you make your payment to save the most on your car insurance renewal compared to other competing services.

Car Insurance

Paul Tan

After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history.

 

Comments

  • Seriously, it is really ugly.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 8
    • Same L0rrr on Nov 17, 2014 at 4:43 pm

      If you judge the car simply by the look, it only show how naive you are. lol

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2
      • kzm (Member) on Nov 17, 2014 at 5:36 pm

        Funny la u Same L0rrr…u do jugde 1 brand car just by look…do u shoot ur own feet?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
    • calcutta on Nov 18, 2014 at 1:44 am

      they name it after mirai hoshizaki,google this name and see what happen

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • I’ve read many car manufacturers already developed hydrogen fuel vehicles but only Toyota has the courage to make it into production. Wonder if this is safe enough to drive otherwise Toyota will initiate another recall. I think the main reason others are not in the market is due to safety issue and of course all the stations needed to support the refueling.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • RicoT on Nov 17, 2014 at 2:53 pm

    mPa = miliPascal? or MPa = MegaPascal?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • one ugly overturned boat.. wait.. is that.. a car?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 6
  • kemosabe on Nov 17, 2014 at 3:06 pm

    This is the way of the future. Possibly it may work for aircrafts too.
    At the same time clean up the landfills.
    Hopefully all the industries that are involve in making this tech a reality are supportive of a cleaner world rather than just think of profits.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • Fukuoka on Nov 17, 2014 at 3:17 pm

    Those who only evaluate a car based on it looks, well, you should stick to Brothers fan page. Please stay away from this site.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
    • You’re right the way a car looks does not equate to how good it is, that said this car is offensively ugly, i dont care if its more powerful than a gtr and more economical than a lightbulb, it is uglier than a dead baboon’s backside.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • AVH (Member) on Nov 17, 2014 at 3:26 pm

    We are at the turning point, where a four door sedan will scare the living cr*p out of everyone who looks at it. I still personally think if fitted a bigger wheels, Rolls-Royce style 21″ for example, the look might improve.

    As for the name, well is rare for a Japanese manufacturer to use a Japanese name for a car. Mirai might be fitting for a car from the future that will kill anyone who gets in its way. And the concept? I am fully supportive of hydrogen as the future of automobile power source. The fact that most Japanese manufacturer who went the hydrogen route plans to feature the cars as a mini power station during aftermath of natural disasters where power lines have been damaged. Because lets face it, hydrogen is still much faster to replenish and can store more energy…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • AutoZen111 (Member) on Nov 17, 2014 at 4:52 pm

    Some may judge the car for its looks but as far as I’m concerned, this is the beauty of the future taking shape. Safety would have to be paramount here, since we’re dealing with a relatively new technology (in the auto industry) and the hazards that come with it. I’m unusually optimistic about the Mirai (future).

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • nabill (Member) on Nov 17, 2014 at 5:33 pm

    i hate cars like these , it makes u think the future is gonna be full of crap like this….man i hope i wont live long !

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • another nabil on Nov 18, 2014 at 1:11 pm

      Please die young and spare us from your miserable existence

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Semi-Value (Member) on Nov 17, 2014 at 5:34 pm

    i remember some av actress called mirai

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Petrofsky77 (Member) on Nov 17, 2014 at 5:46 pm

    Fuel Cell is the only way to move forward towards a cleaner and greener drive. Why? Because although producing hydrogen involves a great deal of energy to harness it, the energy used can be derived from renewable sources, as opposed to a conventional EVs, charging an EV car batteries require direct electricity, and where does that electricity comes from? Fossil fuel. And besides, batteries need replacing over a span of 5 years compared to a fuel cell stack which can last longer.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • MDOTJ on Nov 17, 2014 at 6:48 pm

    https://www.hyundaiusa.com/tucsonfuelcell/

    http://worldwide.hyundai.com/WW/Showroom/Eco/ix35-Fuel-Cell/PIP/index.html

    Hyundai already started production of fuelcell cars… that too big size.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • with solar cell on my roof to generate hydrogen and I refuel this car in my own home!!… May be only need hydrogen station on highways?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • ispeaktruth on Nov 18, 2014 at 9:32 am

    will it come to malaysia? i suppose no, it might take petronas off the job if they dont get to develop hydrogen fuelling station. petronas, anak kebanggaan negara

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
 

Add a comment

required

required