Toyota is one of the manufacturers that has been committed to hydrogen for the longest time . The first generation Mirai represented its first attempt to manufacture and sell a fuel cell electric vehicle powered by this "fuel." It's true that its success was very limited , but that's something those in charge of the brand and the project already knew. The reasons for this were quite obvious: there was no charging network and its sales weren't conventional.
However, with the second generation of the Toyota Mirai, things have changed dramatically. Hydrogen fuel cell technology has evolved so much that its performance and range have increased significantly. Given that Hyundai is gaining ground with the Nexo, they want to outpace them. To do so, they attempted to break a world record for range with the Mirai on a single tank of hydrogen. Did they succeed…?
The Toyota Mirai has exceeded 1.000 kilometers of autonomy with a hydrogen tank
If you recall, we already shared some technical details about the Toyota Mirai . In this case, we'll remind you that thanks to the system's superior efficiency, a larger hydrogen storage tank, and improved aerodynamics, the range is around 650 kilometers . This figure can be achieved under normal driving conditions. Furthermore, refueling takes less than 5 minutes at a 700-bar hydrogen station.
With this data in hand, Toyota wanted to surpass its previous achievement and exceed 1.000 kilometers of range with the Mirai . To do so, they enlisted four drivers, including Victorien Erussard, founder and captain of the Energy Observer ship. The other three drivers involved in the feat were James Olden, an engineer at Toyota Motor Europe; Maxime le Hir, Mirai Product Manager; and Marie Gadd, PR Director at Toyota France.
According to the press release, to achieve the record-breaking 1.003 km distance , the drivers adopted an "eco-driving" style. However, they did not employ any special techniques beyond what any ordinary driver could use. Green hydrogen was used to break the record , with an average consumption of 0,55 kg/100 km, given that the new Mirai can store 5,6 kg of hydrogen.
All in all, this milestone demonstrates that hydrogen vehicles are both possible and highly viable . Furthermore, it underscores the advantages of zero-emission electric mobility, as this energy source is abundant in the environment. Not to mention that refueling is faster than that of the battery-powered electric vehicles we already know. Hopefully, authorities and companies will invest in it, because it would eliminate fossil fuels and our dependence on them in one fell swoop.
Source – Toyota
