Toyota Mirai fuel cell car from 2021 has more luxury, less ugly

When Toyota announced the original Mirai fuel cell electric vehicle in 201[ads1]5 – "Mirai" meaning "future" in Japanese – the company was already 18 years old in its magnificent hybrid gambit, which had paid infinite dividends. Prius and all subsequent Hybrids from Toyota did more to promote the collective awareness of alternative propulsion engines than anything that had come before. This includes clean electric vehicles to that point in 2015, other hybrids, compressed natural gas experiments, and certainly far more than fuel cell technology. But that progress does not stop Toyota from driving further down the fuel cell path. The carmaker just unveiled the 2021 hydrogen fuel cell EV Mirai, which goes into production at the end of 2020. And we've had a sneak peek.

The overall EV image

But first some background. Prius quickly became synonymous with hybrid electric power at a time when gasoline per gallon in the US (as a national average) went from a low of $ 1 in 1998 to $ 2 in late 2004 before hitting around $ 3.25 in mid-2008 and peaked at around $ 3.60 in 2012. And the sale of Prius was certainly not hurt when Hollywood fully embraced it. In 2018, 40% of all Toyotas sold in the United States were hybrids. As of September 2019, however, only 2.4% of the total US market across branded hybrids is.

Meanwhile, less than 1% of the US market consists of EV batteries. Although there is growth and visibility, mainly due to Tesla, BEVs are on the rise for several reasons.

First, the average transaction price for BEVs is $ 70,000, which is expensive in anyone's book. Around 40% of those who responded to a recent poll on the topic cite high costs as a challenge on the road to BEV ownership. Other obstacles include range anxiety, the inconvenience, and the time required, plus the United States' occasional charging infrastructure. Yet, even with all the attention, there are still misconceptions about hybrids. Research shows that a very high percentage of people think they can be stranded by a hybrid when running out of electric charge. (Which is false, if you were in doubt.)

The fastest step towards BEVs seems to be occurring in China. State corporations and others have a greater incentive to invest in that infrastructure, although the basic first wave of roads, bridges and public transport infrastructure is still underway. Support for BEVs is baked into the transport image currently under construction; EV support is not an extra layer like in the US.

Also, the car market is still in an infant of sorts in China. As the market approaches youth, eyes and minds are open to alternative drivelines.

Fuel Cell Development

Meanwhile, several automakers (including Toyota) have been researching and developing electric vehicles with fuel cells (FCV) for over 20 years. In fact, Toyota started at FCV at the same time as it started on hybrids, but the car's first FCV (Mirai) first came on the market in 2015. Meanwhile, the company's first hybrid hit the road back in 1997. Fun Fuel Cell Fact # 1: Fuel Cells Have Been Existing Since 1930- the number as stationary power units. Fun General Fact # 2: Toyota spends a staggering $ 1 million per hour on all its R&D. [ Fun Fuel Cell Fact # 3: GM built an FCV "Electrovan" in 1966, but it weighed more than 10,000 kg / kg – Ed .]

And there are several disadvantages of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles over BEV- is. They require much less time to refuel (about five minutes, or not much longer than a petrol car). They use a plentiful energy source (the US produces 10 million tons of hydrogen per year). Fuel cell piles are extremely scalable – that scalability has been proven since 2016 by Toyota at the shipping ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. For short-haul time, these ports have used a fleet of full tractor trucks powered by twin-coupled fuel cells lifted out of a Toyota FCV application. The trailers emit no pollution and essentially make no noise compared to a diesel, and their drivers do not have to turn off the engines when the vehicles are idling (as they should with diesel). This also allows the use of air conditioning for the cab, even when the vehicles are stationary.

All this provides a compelling argument for FCVs, reducing some external forces such as the actual cost of fuel and the very shy infrastructure of refueling, which includes a bit of a regulatory headache, especially in the eastern states. So you can think of the tangible future of FCVs as a pipe dream, but if only a few pieces of the puzzle are out, a greater spread of FCVs across our landscape may be just a few years away.

Mirai

During the controversial bodywork, the current Mirai uses two 370 cell fuel cells in 56 kg each, together with two hydrogen tanks; a tank under the back seat and a tank under the trunk. One Camry hybrid battery provides 249 volts. It also uses a Prius power control unit, all worth the equivalent of 151 hp (113 kW) and 247 pounds (335Nm) of torque. The tanks themselves are pressurized to 10 153 psi (700 bar, or 70 MPa) and are multi-layered with five layers of carbon fiber plus an outer layer that absorbs sharp bumps.

Since 2015, Toyota has sold around 6,000 Mirai FCV in California just because of many other states' regulations for fueling hydrogen. These regulations stem from old, rather uncertain experiences in the distant past, although these laws could be revised as soon as next year.

However, most of these sales are leases. The current car costs $ 59,500, including the $ 930 destination fee and the $ 5,000 California discount. Since the $ 389 / month leases with a $ 1,500 cash down payment include fuel costs for three years – in itself an important consideration since the energy equivalent of gasoline is about $ 7 / gallon, and about $ 14 / gallon per volume – leasing has a very clear advantage.

The upcoming Mirai from 2021

While Toyota has given us a sneak peek of the new Mirai, the carmaker is shy about some meaningful engineering points on the car. However, we know a few things.

Toyota has confirmed that the new Mirai will be rear-drive only if the current Mirai is front-wheel drive. This means that the new model can be based on either the TNGA-N or the TNGA-L platform. (Toyota would not disclose any platform info except the direction of the steering wheel; this is our deduction). The new car will also be longer, lower and wider.

Toyota has also stated that the operating range of the & # 39; 21 Mirai will improve by 30%, which is up from today's 312 miles to around 405 miles. It is truly reachable, even for a conventional combustion truck with a generous tank. At the top of the latest BEV square, the 300 mile range has become normal. So with the pace of general range development, 400 could be on par with BEVs from the model year21.

Using the current Mirai as a barometer, the acceleration and performance of the new model will not be able to match ICE cars. However, this is where we think there is a gap between some perceptions and expectations in the electric car race, as it were. Much has been made of BEV's acceleration and especially Tesla's "Ludicrous" mode – but the actual data shows that people aren't buying electric cars for their shocking acceleration.

"The performance piece of the cake is most emotional, and most consumers won't [try] say Toyota's Nathan Kokes, automaker's Mobility & Advanced Technology Communications Manager." For them, the top-level specification is reach, range and range. "

& # 39; 21 Mirai will also receive Toyota's recently announced EV batteries for all vehicles in 2020 and beyond, covering them for 10 years and 150,000 miles. This warranty is also transferable ; it cascades to subsequent second, third, fourth and even fifth owners. We are also sure that all early FCV sensitivity for cold weather is also fully worked out.

Toyota expects sales of 30,000 units globally for Mirai 2021 it Activation of the global figure is Japan's 100 fuel filling stations, Germany's 70 stations, Norway's 50, and the much greater overall availability of hydrogen stations in Europe than in the US. California (39 in major subway centers), 1 in Hawaii, and several built, but not open for business, pending legislative changes in the northeast.

Inside, the & # 39; 21 Mirai will receive a 12.3-inch multifunction touch screen for infotainment and probably won't get the much-criticized touch pad that touches new Lexus models. It will also get five seats where the current Mirai has only four, plus a 15-speaker JBL sound system. The new Mirai paint will also follow the Lexus process with six colored coats and a clear top coat with periods of frying between each coat application.

The only special service of the new Mirai will be covered by the warranty and largely applies to the new Mirai air filter replacement (like the current car) in 8000 kilometers increments and lubrication of the cooling system pump stack.

The new production Mirai car will first be shown publicly at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show. But given the new Mirai's design – which is as handsome as the old car's design is ugly – we can't help but wonder why it won't be marketed as a Lexus. Or why Toyota didn't talk to an SUV or a crossover form factor, as it is the clear winner in the trends in both European and American markets and provides even more space for tanks, motors, batteries and other electrical components associated with an FCV.

Doug Murtha – who is Toyota's executive vice president, business strategy and planning – told us that this decision was largely governed by Japan. This is because Mirai wants to see a much larger share of sales in Japan against the US or Europe, as well as a total increase in total production, to 30,000 cars per year.

2021 Mirai shows a lot of laws, especially aesthetics. It looks more like a Lexus than a Toyota, though it doesn't have the luxury brand's controversial "spindle" grille shape. The upper greenhouse of the car also echoes the current LS sedan, with several square windows on the rear, and is decidedly cabin-backed in proportion.

Given Toyota's commitment to luxurious levels of driving dynamics and refinement, it could be an early adopter's dream to go mobile.