Toyota reveals new Mirai concept, the second-generation of its hydrogen fuel cell-powered...

[Humza]

Something to look forward to: Toyota's refresh of the hydrogen fuel cell Mirai looks to go the way of the company's upmarket Lexus division. Now in its second generation, the recently revealed EV concept is set to get a production-ready preview at the Tokyo auto show later this year with rear-wheel drive, 400 miles of range and a five-minute refueling time.

In the on-going tussle between battery-powered and combustion engine vehicles, Toyota's hydrogen fuel cell technology seems to combine the best of both worlds - fossil-free EV propulsion paired with the range and refueling time of a traditional ICE-powered car.

Despite things looking promising on paper, Toyota, which came up with one of the first commercial hydrogen fuel cell-powered sedans, has had a very niche market with its Mirai (which means "future" in Japanese).

Since the first-gen model that went on sale in 2015, most Mirais have gone to the North American market, particularly the state of California. Although it's available in Europe and Japan too, the US State has accounted for nearly 66 percent of the car's global sales of 9,000 units.

Now in its second generation, the Japanese automaker looks to take the vehicle upmarket, shifting its image from the average Joe's Prius to the more luxurious Lexus GS. The newer model, with a much better-looking concept, is expected to begin production in late 2020.

Like the Lexus sedan, the next Mirai will be rear-wheel drive as opposed to the current model and also sport a lower, wider stance. The car's range will also see a 30 percent improvement, increasing it from 312 miles to 405 miles.

Toyota is one of the very few automobile companies to invest heavily in hydrogen fuel cells and says that it's spent $1 million an hour on R&D of this technology. Combine this with a very limited infrastructure, improvements to the exterior and interior (now with seating for five), and it's easy to see why the next Mirai will be more expensive than the outgoing $58,500 model. Though price doesn't seem to be a concern, as the company says that more than 95% of Mirais are leased.

In terms of reliability, Toyota's fuel cell senior engineer Jacke Birdsall says that the car has been tested in -40 degree weather, from the cold Yellowknife city in Canada to the hot temperatures of Death Valley. "It's not a question of whether this technology works," she says, adding that they're now looking to refine it in terms of efficiency and cost, and taking advantage of the EV performance with rear-wheel drive.

Interestingly, Toyota isn't looking to win over batteries in current EVs with its fuel cells. "If you have a house and you can charge a car in your garage, then maybe you get an EV," says Birdsall. "If you don't have access to a charger, or you cover a lot of mileage, and you want a zero-emissions vehicle, then a fuel cell car is the better option. It's not one or the other. We want to give people choices."

The Mirai's chief engineer, Yoshikazu Tanaka says that the new Mirai is meant to be a car that customers feel like driving all the time, "a car that has emotional and design appeal, as well as dynamic and responsive driving performance that can bring a smile to the faces of drivers." He prefers Mirai's customers to say that they chose it not because it's an FCEV, but because they really wanted the car and "it just happened to be an FCEV."

Toyota plans to sell 30,000 units of the '21 Mirai in its first year and is working to increase its presence in the US' Northeast market through infrastructure expansion. The new Mirai will also come with the company's recently announced 10-year (150,000 miles) transferable warranty and, possibly, free hydrogen refueling for the first three years of ownership, like the offer on the current model.

More information on the car will be available once its shown off at the Tokyo Motor Show later this month.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/82302-toyota-reveals-new-mirai-concept-second-generation-hydrogen.html

 

[Uncle Al]

Nice looking but I think this one is a bit too far out for a number or reasons, especially for refueling ....

 

[VitalyT]

This looks and sounds interesting all around. I'd love to see such vehicles start sale here in Ireland.

 

[Fearghast]

Electric car with its own powerplant - it's a really nice concept, but I have to wonder if it's as reliable as other Toyota cars.
THB I much really like the new prototype of plugin Prius, with huge solar panels everywhere

 

[Lounds]

Hydrogen uses 3x electricity to produce to have the same energy as an EV which gets the energy straight from the grid with little lost energy conversion compared to Hydrogen production which has to use electrolysis to extract hydrogen from water. What a waste of energy!

 

[IAMTHESTIG]

Honestly, I feel hydrogen is getting c*ck-blocked... Granted it isn't as 'efficient' as batteries but it can be produced at home and it can be produced on-site at refilling stations. It is more efficient than petrol and diesel powered vehicles, and can be refueled in the same time. Realistically there isn't any super good reason hydrogen vehicles shouldn't be at equal or even better sales than battery EV's. I really believe if there had been as much effort and money put into making hydrogen EV's and refueling stations available as there was for battery EV's we'd have equal amounts of both right now and even less petrol/diesel ICE vehicles. And a lot of people seem to forget that the battery pack won't last forever, and will probably need to be replaced at some point at huge cost. And in the very end, I think hydrogen will win because of its quick refuel times - and I just don't feel batteries will ever get to the desired capacity and quick recharge times most people are not only used to with ICE vehicles, but need.

So the fact that Japan is pushing so hard for hydrogen puts a smile on my face, and I hope they are successful in their push, world-wide. We all know how successful they were with pushing economical and reliable vehicles upon the western world so I hope they do the same thing with hydrogen EV's.

 

[IAMTHESTIG]

Hydrogen uses 3x electricity to produce to have the same energy as an EV which gets the energy straight from the grid with little lost energy conversion compared to Hydrogen production which has to use electrolysis to extract hydrogen from water. What a waste of energy!

This depends on where the electricity is coming from... A lot of greenies forget there is still a large portion of coal and gas powered electrical stations. It just depends on the area, and in some areas hydrogen EV's would be more environmentally friendly than battery EV's.

 

[wiyosaya]

Hydrogen uses 3x electricity to produce to have the same energy as an EV which gets the energy straight from the grid with little lost energy conversion compared to Hydrogen production which has to use electrolysis to extract hydrogen from water. What a waste of energy!

Apparently, only 4% of commercial hydrogen is produced using electrolysis. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_production

 

[bexwhitt]

Honestly, I feel hydrogen is getting c*ck-blocked... Granted it isn't as 'efficient' as batteries but it can be produced at home and it can be produced on-site at refilling stations. It is more efficient than petrol and diesel powered vehicles, and can be refueled in the same time. Realistically there isn't any super good reason hydrogen vehicles shouldn't be at equal or even better sales than battery EV's. I really believe if there had been as much effort and money put into making hydrogen EV's and refueling stations available as there was for battery EV's we'd have equal amounts of both right now and even less petrol/diesel ICE vehicles. And a lot of people seem to forget that the battery pack won't last forever, and will probably need to be replaced at some point at huge cost. And in the very end, I think hydrogen will win because of its quick refuel times - and I just don't feel batteries will ever get to the desired capacity and quick recharge times most people are not only used to with ICE vehicles, but need.

So the fact that Japan is pushing so hard for hydrogen puts a smile on my face, and I hope they are successful in their push, world-wide. We all know how successful they were with pushing economical and reliable vehicles upon the western world so I hope they do the same thing with hydrogen EV's.

The logistics of supply are really expensive and hard with hydrogen, it makes no sense for cars, trucks and ships maybe. Toyota has it's head in the sand if it thinks hydrogen will ever go mainstream for cars.

 

[Lounds]

Honestly, I feel hydrogen is getting c*ck-blocked... Granted it isn't as 'efficient' as batteries but it can be produced at home and it can be produced on-site at refilling stations. It is more efficient than petrol and diesel powered vehicles, and can be refueled in the same time. Realistically there isn't any super good reason hydrogen vehicles shouldn't be at equal or even better sales than battery EV's. I really believe if there had been as much effort and money put into making hydrogen EV's and refueling stations available as there was for battery EV's we'd have equal amounts of both right now and even less petrol/diesel ICE vehicles. And a lot of people seem to forget that the battery pack won't last forever, and will probably need to be replaced at some point at huge cost. And in the very end, I think hydrogen will win because of its quick refuel times - and I just don't feel batteries will ever get to the desired capacity and quick recharge times most people are not only used to with ICE vehicles, but need.

So the fact that Japan is pushing so hard for hydrogen puts a smile on my face, and I hope they are successful in their push, world-wide. We all know how successful they were with pushing economical and reliable vehicles upon the western world so I hope they do the same thing with hydrogen EV's.

I watched this video earlier and I think it's going to take a lot longer for Hydrogen to ever become mainstream, there's more profit to be made in Battery EV's and fast charging stations.

 

[toooooot]

Kinda looks like lexus

 

[TempleOrion]

Kinda looks like lexus

I think that's the idea

 

[Nobina]

Kinda looks like lexus

Isn't that the same thing?

 

[Karlos95]

This depends on where the electricity is coming from... A lot of greenies forget there is still a large portion of coal and gas powered electrical stations. It just depends on the area, and in some areas hydrogen EV's would be more environmentally friendly than battery EV's.

I don't think they "forget" at all. There are 100 companies that are producing 70% of the worlds pollution. Guess who are the ones blocking the "green" way. If everyone started to drive EVs then OIL companies would be losing out. That would mean it would be all up to the coal barrons to keep business as usual. But as people start to use solar panels on their homes, the coal companies also start to lose money. It's all stepping in the right direction. Now you say they forget where the electricity is coming from? Well, using coal electricity still cuts down fuel consumption (more emissions from the engine) and still is cleaner than all the cars sitting in traffic blowing smoke into the air. But again, true change will happen when the COAL and OIL industries don't have the politicians and markets by the balls.

 

[Markoni35]

No wonder greeneeies don't like hydrogen power. They are totally corrupt. Bribed by nuclear lobby to fight for proliferation of nuclear power plants.

They are pushing weak and unreliable energy sources, such as solar and wind, because they know those sources aren't competition to nuclear. Because you still have to build a reliable source, like a nuclear power plant, with the same projected power as if those renewables didn't exist. Because sometimes they really don't exist (solar at night, and turbines when there's no wind).

They don't like hydrogen because it can be produced in a zillion different ways. Including solar energy. But unlike photoelectric collectors, hydrogen can be stored cheaply. That's why greenies don't like it, because it converts unreliable sources to reliable.

For the same reason, greenies are against geothermal and hydro power. Hard to believe greenies would be against those two best renewable energy sources, but you can see it in media, they are always against them. Greenies almost always "forget" to mention Phillippines, which produce 30% of their power from geothermal, except when they mention that geothermal drilling can cause earthquakes. And regarding hydro power, do I have to mention they always attack construction of every new hydro power plant. But why?

Because those two sources are reliable and constant. They can completely replace nuclear power plants. And their sponsors definitely don't like that. Of course, if you ask a greenie why they support standard nuclear reactors vs breeder nuclear reactors - they don't even know the difference. And the difference is huge. But their sponsors "forgot" to tell them that.

 

[bexwhitt]

No wonder greeneeies don't like hydrogen power. They are totally corrupt. Bribed by nuclear lobby to fight for proliferation of nuclear power plants.

They are pushing weak and unreliable energy sources, such as solar and wind, because they know those sources aren't competition to nuclear. Because you still have to build a reliable source, like a nuclear power plant, with the same projected power as if those renewables didn't exist. Because sometimes they really don't exist (solar at night, and turbines when there's no wind).

They don't like hydrogen because it can be produced in a zillion different ways. Including solar energy. But unlike photoelectric collectors, hydrogen can be stored cheaply. That's why greenies don't like it, because it converts unreliable sources to reliable.

For the same reason, greenies are against geothermal and hydro power. Hard to believe greenies would be against those two best renewable energy sources, but you can see it in media, they are always against them. Greenies almost always "forget" to mention Phillippines, which produce 30% of their power from geothermal, except when they mention that geothermal drilling can cause earthquakes. And regarding hydro power, do I have to mention they always attack construction of every new hydro power plant. But why?

Because those two sources are reliable and constant. They can completely replace nuclear power plants. And their sponsors definitely don't like that. Of course, if you ask a greenie why they support standard nuclear reactors vs breeder nuclear reactors - they don't even know the difference. And the difference is huge. But their sponsors "forgot" to tell them that.

You clearly don't know much about the problems Hydrogen production, transport and storage has.
As Hydroden takes50 kiloWatt hours (kWh) to electrolyze 9 kg of water into 1 kg of H2 and 8 kg of O2. it makes no sense to use Electricity to make hydrogen unless you have more electricity than demand.
Then there is the fact that you can't compress hydrogen without cooling it to a very sub zero temperature without great expense. The equipment needed to store hydrogen is very expensive also.
Then there is battery powered EV's with easy access to Electricity in most places with much lower cost than the boondoggle hydrogen is.

 

[JaredTheDragon]

I feel like all the "haters" here in the comments are simply uneducated on the topic of Hydrogen to begin with. Hydrogen isn't some weird chemical compound - it's just a goddamn proton. That's literally all it is. It may or may not have an electron following along or a neutron to pal around with - but it's still literally just a proton.

Guess what most of the cosmos is made of? Protons. They're literally everywhere. They are by far the most abundant large particle, by orders of magnitude, and there are a host of ways to collect and isolate them. You can even do so using a simple Luneburg Lens and some photonic input.

But I'm not just here to talk ****. Here's a video diagram I made showing Hydrogen's charge profile - how the proton is powered by the charge field itself and how simple it actually is. It's the fundamental building block of all larger baryonic matter, including its twin-cousin pal, Helium:

 

[wiyosaya]

I feel like all the "haters" here in the comments are simply uneducated on the topic of Hydrogen to begin with. Hydrogen isn't some weird chemical compound - it's just a goddamn proton. That's literally all it is. It may or may not have an electron following along or a neutron to pal around with - but it's still literally just a proton.

Guess what most of the cosmos is made of? Protons. They're literally everywhere. They are by far the most abundant large particle, by orders of magnitude, and there are a host of ways to collect and isolate them. You can even do so using a simple Luneburg Lens and some photonic input.

But I'm not just here to talk ****. Here's a video diagram I made showing Hydrogen's charge profile - how the proton is powered by the charge field itself and how simple it actually is. It's the fundamental building block of all larger baryonic matter, including its twin-cousin pal, Helium:

Miles Mathis

Miles Mathis (born 1964) is an American artist, poet, writer, pseudoscientist, and conspiracy theorist.

rationalwiki.org

 

[Bohefus]

No wonder greeneeies don't like hydrogen power. They are totally corrupt. Bribed by nuclear lobby to fight for proliferation of nuclear power plants.

The last Nuclear power plant was built in the 70's and they are mostly still going strong in producing power in the U.S. The radioactive waste problem of storing the fuel and the safety issues of what happened in Japan are a concern but for the most part they are very good sources of power that should come back. The new proposed plants are a lot safer and less costly to run.

 

[Markoni35]

The last Nuclear power plant was built in the 70's and they are mostly still going strong in producing power in the U.S. The radioactive waste problem of storing the fuel and the safety issues of what happened in Japan are a concern but for the most part they are very good sources of power that should come back. The new proposed plants are a lot safer and less costly to run.

You obviously don't know much about nuclear power plants. The current line of nuclear reactors (as well as the proposed new line) are both crappy tech. Neither of them are breeder reactors. What's the difference?

99% of active nuclear reactors spit out nuclear waste that's very radioactive. Where "very radioactive" means that waste is still full of nuclear energy. Which should have been converted to electricity. But instead, they are throwing it away. Why?

Because in 1960'es the mining corporations asked the US government to ban the breeder reactors, and choose the "normal" ones (I would call them "criminal") which waste more fuel. So that mining corporations can sell more fuel. And president Gerald Ford was happy to receive their bribery and sign the document. Most of other countries did the same. And there we are - having the world full of crappy anti-ecological reactors. Which stupid activists call "ecological" not knowing that their organizations are mostly financed by mining corporations like BHP. Which make billions on mining uranium.

On the other hand, breeder reactors can actually be called ecological (compared to conventional reactors). They cost just 10% more but squeeze most of the energy from the fuel. Which means they require less fuel (less pollution during mining and processing), they save money on fuel, and they produce minimally radioactive waste. Which means cheaper and safer storage, and more eco-friendly. So it's double ecological: better on input (less mining and processing) and on output (lower-radiation waste).

So why aren't then eco-activists asking for breeder reactors? Because they are trolls of the mining industry, most of them never even heard of breeder reactors. Most of them honestly think they are fighting for eco-solutions, not even knowing who is financing their "ecological" organizations. But in reality they are just choosing one stinking dirty industry over another.

The day I hear eco-activists demanding breeder reactors would be the day I start believing they are relly fighting for ecology. Until that happens they are just sad trolls working for uranium mining and processing corporations. Huge corporations which pollute the environmnet and, among other crimes, contribute to proliferation of depleted-uranium weapons. Which is a crime against humanity.