The race for the hydrogen
fuel cell vehicle is really heating up.
Within the past few
days, Honda has unveiled its FCV Concept in Japan, BMW is reportedly planning
a hydrogen-powered i5, and now, Toyota has officially announced
its hydrogen fuel cell vehicle for the 2016 model year.
Called as 'Mirai', which means 'Future' in Japanese, is a midsize sedan which will go on sale in Japan by the end of the year.
The Mirai will go on
sale in the U.S as early as next year as Toyota has
announced a joint venture with industrial gas supplier Air Liquide to build 12
hydrogen fueling stations in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut,
and Rhode Island. There are currently 10 stations in California, but
the state has committed to 20 by 2015 and 40 by 2016.
Some features you
would definitely like about the 'Mirai' :
- The hydrogen powertrain takes
just five minutes to fill.
- Emits no exhaust besides
water vapor.
- Can even siphon
energy into an owner’s home with the Optional Power Take-Off
device.
- Maximum power
output of 153 horsepower.
- Maximum torque of
247 lb-ft.
- It can accelerate from 0 to
60 mph in around 9 seconds.
- Maximum
of 5.0 kilograms of compressed hydrogen in two 10,000-psi
carbon-fiber-reinforced high-pressure tanks.
- Despite being
an FCV, it will have a top speed of 111 mph.
- It will have a
nickel-metal-hydride battery similar to that in the Prius and will be fed
by a fuel-cell stack tucked under the front seats.
- The
solid-polymer electrolyte fuel cell was completely developed in-house by
Toyota and consists of 370 cells.
Power Take-off:
On a full charge,
the car provides up to 60 kWh of power to one’s home (or perhaps even one’s
depleted Tesla battery) in case of an emergency or a power outage. Toyota
claims that’s enough to power an average household for about six days.
