SAY HY TO THE FUTURE
Forget electricity.. Toyota’s hydrogen-fuelled Mirai could be the perfect solution for saving the world
Maggie Barry
“This is the future,” said the man from Toyota as he handed me the keys to the new Mirai.
It is not a name that gets bandied about a lot, except in certain circles, as the Mirai is a hydrogen-fuelled car.
If you thought electrically powered vehicles were exotic, then hydrogen is beyond that.. and yet, in the Far East, hydrogen is the up-and-coming fuel source – cleaner than diesel or petrol and with only water as a byproduct.
It comes out the tailpipe and there is a button on the dash that allows you to release it when you prefer. When you want a cuppa perhaps?
Toyota has been a pioneer in the area of hydrogen-fuelled cars – much as they have been in hybrid vehicles.
At the beginning people laughed – but now they’re not so sure.
Hydrogen fuel cell buses have been operating in Aberdeen for some time, a f leet is planned for Glasgow and hydrogen plants south of Glasgow and in Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, are awaiting the green light. Further south there are a few hydrogen filling stations – 10 in total in the UK – but 90 in Germany, for example. Top Gear’s James May has just bought a Mirai and I’m not surprised.
It takes just three to four minutes to fill up and you do that by pushing a nozzle into a second nozzle in the car – like filling a cigarette lighter from a gas canister – and then you’re good to go. Much more intuitive than electricity. The Mirai is also a beautiful saloon car, far more along the lines of Lexus cars – Toyota’s premium brand – than the basic, boxy cars we saw when electr icit y f irst came out as an alternative power source.
This is luxury, sheer luxury, with a big grille, sleek lines, 20in alloys and a wonderfully comfortable and plush interior.
The ride is cushioned and silent but powerful. It delivers 180bhp and will go for 400 miles without any need to refill – that’s refuel, not recharge. Not only is it swift but also very manoeuvrable, as I discovered when I got caught in a traffic jam and had to make a quick exit. As a plus, it also has a Nanoe Air Purification system, which not only purifies the air of the Mirai but also of other cars near it, meaning you end up with more clean air after your drive than before it. Very green.
It is packed with every safety feature imaginable and, as this is the future, piles of tech equipment such as a video rear view mirror, wireless phone charging, rear-heated seats, a panoramic view monitor for easier parking and visibility, ventilated front seats – the list goes on.
And yes, you’re right – all it needs is a place to refuel. James May bought his because where he lives there are several hydrogen fuelling stations. With the Scottish Government backing the set-up of hydrogen production in Scotland for the likes of bus fleets, then surely this technology will cascade down to cars, particularly if it is clean and efficient.
The Mirai may not be a first choice in Scotland at the moment but watch this space. Hydrogen-fuelled cars are very quietly and cleverly making their way on to UK roads and the man from Toyota could be right – this could be our future.