Toyota’s Mirai represents a turning point in the automotive industry, introducing a new age where electricity is generated on demand using hydrogen as a fuel.
Mirai – its name is Japanese for “future” – is designed to diminish the world’s dependence on oil and reduce harm to the environment.
Hydrogen can be made from virtually anything, even sewage sludge – and the car’s fuel cells can create enough electricity to power a car or even a house for around a week.
Mirai is also fun to drive, delivering punchy performance while offering the convenience and driving pleasure of a conventional car.
The ground-breaking Toyota achieves maximum power above 110kW from its fuel-cell stack through the electric motor.
A four-door sedan, the Mirai has a cruising range of about 550km and a commercial hydrogen refuelling time of 3-5 minutes, based on Toyota measurements in Europe. When driven, the only emission is water vapour.
The Toyota Fuel-Cell System, which enables the Mirai to produce its own electricity, incorporates world-first technology and several world-leading systems, including for power density and hydrogen storage density.
It utilises the same hybrid technology developed for Toyota’s hybrid synergy drive systems, replacing the petrol engine with a fuel-cell stack.
Hydrogen, stored under pressure in two tanks at 70 MPa (700 bar) is fed into the fuel-cell stack where it is combined with oxygen from the air, to create a chemical reaction that produces electricity to power the vehicle.
The system is more energy-efficient than internal combustion engines and emits no CO2 or pollutants when driven.
Extensive engineering development has resulted in smart solutions that have enabled Toyota to delete or reduce the size and number of system components – saving space and cost while improving or maintaining performance.
The high output Toyota Fuel-Cell Stack and optimal battery power control drive the electric motor and ensure
responsiveness at all vehicle speeds.
This provides an immediate increase in torque at the first press of the accelerator, and powerful and smooth acceleration thereafter.
Handling stability and ride comfort are both improved through the location of major parts such as the Toyota Fuel-Cell Stack and high pressure hydrogen tanks centrally under the floor to achieve a low centre of gravity and superior frontand-rear weight distribution, as well as the use of a high-rigidity body, which features enhanced rigidity around the rear suspension.
The full under-floor cover and aerodynamically designed clearance lights reduce wind resistance and contribute to improved fuel efficiency and handling stability.
Aero fins employed at the side of the rear combination lamps also improve straight-driving stability.
