Toyota Mirai

The world’s largest carmaker, Toyota, has added another feather in its cap with the first production hydrogen car – the Mirai. Toyota passionately believes that the future of the automobile lies in hydrogen. Here’s a closer look at this revolutionary machine.

In Japanese, ‘Mirai’ means the future. And in the land of the rising sun, the ‘hydrogen future’ is finally here. Toyota’s Mirai is already on sale, and you don’t have to sign a lease or rental agreement to get one – just write a cheque. The car costs the equivalent about 42,000 Euros (Rs.30 lakhs) in Japan after a massive government subsidy of an equivalent of more than 16,000 Euros (Rs. 11 lakhs). It’s difficult to imagine that most other governments will be as generous as the Japanese when it comes to incentives for hydrogen cars. But, for a car so revolutionary, it’s almost inconceivable to think that it would cost less than it does.

WAITING FOR THE ANSWER

A lot has changed since the 1990’s, when Toyota spent millions of dollars to develop a fuel cell prototype. The Japanese giant is now forecasting the date of the first, effective diffusion of hydrogen for cars – 2017 for the most optimistic companies, 2020 for those that are more realistic.

Until a few years ago, we used to wonder how to store and distribute hydrogen in a safe way. But, today, the issues are the methods of hydrogen production, the return on investment required to build the distribution network, and, especially, the commitment necessary for changing the attitude of the public – the majority of whom are obviously still satisfied by traditional fuel sources.

On these points, automakers and governments have begun to work together in order to combat global warming. In Japan, the emission control regulations require that all manufacturers have zero emission vehicles for at least 16% of their model range by 2018. And so, whether through conviction or obligation, something is moving.

CAR OF THE FUTURE

But now is the time to highlight the Mirai. The car could well be the final stage of the path chalked out by the Prius – Toyota’s path-breaking hybrid.

How does the Mirai look in the flesh? The designers say that they’ve been inspired by an abstract fusion between the hydrogen and oxygen atoms that are fused in water – which is the only exhaust emission of a fuel cell. The result is somewhat edgy, but original and futuristic. Whether or not customers will give it the thumbs up, however, remains to be seen.

The Mirai has many qualities, but people may find it is difficult to consider it aesthetically beautiful. The impressive front bumper is characterized by huge air intakes. And, while in the cabin, you can feel the extravagant proportions of the body.

Once inside, one question arises – why can’t the future be a tad more sober? At any rate, with an output of 155bhp, transmitted through a continuously variable transmission, the sedan can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in less than10 seconds – demonstrating reasonable progress for the hydrogen-powered car. Toyota, for that matter, can fall back on more than 17 years of experience in battery and power units. And to cut costs, the Mirai draws liberally from the Prius parts bin.

Theoretically, the two hydrogen tanks should provide a driving range of 650 kilometres – but 550 kilometres seems a more reasonable estimate. Acceleration is immediate and fluid. The considerable mass of 1,850kgs is felt only during braking and cornering at high speed. The fuel cell has a plain and clean response, and the steering is direct. But the response would improve considerably if the car were to be shod with tyres that had better grip – rather than the low rolling resistance tyres that our test car was fitted with.

In short, the Mirai is certainly a step forward for hydrogen-powered cars. Its success, however, will depend very much on the development of the hydrogen re-fuelling infrastructure.

For all it’s qualities, it’ll be very difficult for people to adjust to the aesthetics of the Mirai – which are simply too outlandish with its massive air intakes in front.

The cabin, once again, is too outlandish with its fragmented lines, unusually integrated displays and media controls. On the right is the hydrogen filler that feeds the fuel cell.

WHAT WE LIKE

Power delivery. The response from the engine is very smooth. Plus, it has a very efficient braking system.

Quality. We can debate the interior design, but never the quality of the materials.

Novelty. The Mirai owns the title of the first series-production fuel cell car. In Japan, it’s already on sale like any other car.

WHAT WE DON’T

Grip from the eco tyres. The low resistance tyres are good at containing fuel consumption, but if you consider behaviour on the road they don’t fare well at all.

Price. With a list price of over 58,000 Euros (Rs. 40 lakhs), the Mirai is currently too expensive.

Styling. Far too edgy and eccentric.

The overall design provides the impression of sports car styling that’s been surgically transplanted onto the body of a sedan. But one thing’s for certain – the Mirai doesn’t go unnoticed...

GIVING HYDROGEN A CHANCE

It seems that hydrogen has been given a second chance. Exactly 12 months after our feature (see the February 2014 issue of autoX), all the doubts about whether or not fuel cell cars would actually see production have been cleared.

In addition to the Mirai being on sale in Japan, it’s now also possible to privately rent a hydrogen-powered Hyundai ix35 in Europe (1). And like Hyundai, Honda has also opted for the rental formula. Linked to a cooperation agreement with GM, Honda unveiled the FCV Concept in Tokyo last November (2). Among the pioneers of the industry (the first FCX dates back to 2002, the second, the Clarity, to 2008), Honda also actively contributes to the expansion of the hydrogen distribution network in the United States. In 2014, it invested nearly $14 million in California. Honda’s third generation fuel cell car is expected in Asian markets by March 2016, after which it’ll make its way to the US and Europe.

There’s been no recent news from BMW – but, thanks to an agreement with Toyota, the German giant can draw on the Japanese automaker’s know-how on hydrogen cars. The alliance of Daimler, Ford and Renault-Nissan, meanwhile, will make us wait till 2017 to see the fruits of their collective labour. Like Hyundai, the VW Group is going it alone. They presented the Golf SportWagen Hy Motion and the Audi Sportback h-tron at the last Los Angeles Auto Show (3).