Toyota Mirai Succeeding Despite Scarcity of Hydrogen Fueling Stations
U.S. sales of Toyota’s hydrogenpowered Mirai increased over 400% in 2021, with nearly all of the sales registered in California. The Golden State’s enthusiastic green motorists continue to support the promising new powertrain even though fueling stations remain hard to come by. Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) produce no tailpipe emissions other than water vapor, making them a viable alternative to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) for fully decarbonizing the transportation sector.
According to recent figures released by the California Fuel Cell Partnership, there are currently only 56 hydrogen stations available in California that are serving a fleet of over 13,000 FCEVs. Most of the stations are clustered in Southern California and the Bay Area. Nine more are under construction, and 28 are in the process of acquiring permits. The California Energy Commission has funded 70 more stations, but their locations have yet to be determined.
The trailblazing Mirai sedan is currently benefiting from being one of the only FCEVs available for purchase, with Hyundai’s outstanding Nexo SUV its only serious competitor. Toyota continues to offer the Mirai as part of its global marketing strategy, which offers an eclectic variety of superb low to zero emission vehicles to environmentally responsible auto consumers.
Toyota’s flagship FCEV is a truly remarkable vehicle, and it will become a more attractive green option as more hydrogen stations become available. Starting at about $50,000, the Mirai isn’t cheap, but federal and state incentives can knock thousands of dollars off the sticker price. Toyota is also offering complimentary hydrogen fuel for six years, or $15,000, whichever comes first.
Depending on the model, a Mirai can venture 330 to 402 miles before refueling, giving it a comparable range to similar gas burners. Unlike BEVs that require a considerable amount of time to refuel, it takes about five minutes to fill up a Mirai with hydrogen. The electric motor delivers 182 horsepower to the rear wheels through a direct-drive transmission, providing plenty of smooth, instantaneous acceleration. Fully loaded with amenities, the Mirai stacks up well against similarly priced luxury sedans.
While the lack of fueling infrastructure is currently a big drawback to owning an FCEV, the future prospects for the nascent powertrain look good. Internal combustion vehicles are about to be phased out around the globe, and BEVs will continue to be a very unattractive option for folks who are unable to charge at home. It is going to be extremely challenging to upgrade established multi-unit dwellings with enough additional electricity to provide Level 2 home charging to all the tenants. One hydrogen station can refuel hundreds of FCEVs per day just as gas stations do now, offering a reasonably convenient zero-emission fueling alternative to non-homeowners. Over 250 million U.S. passenger vehicles are currently being refueled by fewer than 150,000 gas stations, and hydrogen stations have the potential to offer similar efficiency.
Toyota continues to hold out hope that government policymakers will recognize the unique benefits of FCEVs and provide more robust support. The urgent effort to decarbonize transportation will require a steady, pragmatic transition to a diverse fleet of BEVs, FCEVs, and ultra-efficient plug-in hybrids. The Mirai has demonstrated the feasibility of powering desirable cars with hydrogen wherever the modern fuel can be made available.