Reader Response Draft 1 of Toyota Mirai, the Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Car

Image taken from: https://www.longotoyota.com/blogs/4337/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-Toyota-Mirai.jpg

In 2014, the very first Toyota Mirai, a mid-size hydrogen fuel cell vehicle was introduced by Toyota. According to Leow (2022), the Mirai, which means “future” in Japanese, is a hydrogen fuel-cell car that boasts a unique engine that distinguishes itself from its market rivals. The Mirai uses a hydrogen fuel-cell stack to power itself, unlike conventional batteries. According to Hunting (2023), external oxygen mixes with the hydrogen stored to generate electrical energy, which powers the electric motors. Water is the only waste product due to the mixture, causing zero emissions. Based on the Mirai webpage by Toyota itself, (Toyota, n.d.), the Mirai’s hydrogen engine allows a rapid refueling time of five minutes. In 2019, the second generation Mirai is introduced, it boasts many improvements compared to the model before. For starters, the ride is quieter and smoother. Its new engine also provides more power and is lighter, allowing the Mirai to hit 100km/h with much ease. Some additional performance figures and features of the Mirai include a 645-kilometer range on one tank, and three different driving modes depending on the driver’s utilization of the vehicle, (Eco, Normal and Sport). To add on, Toyota, remarkably, achieved these improvements to the engine with parts that cost two-thirds of the engine before (Leow, 2022).

“The more you drive, the more you clean the air”, (Halvorson, 2021). The Mirai not only produces zero emissions but is also able to filter out chemical pollutants (sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and ammonia), and pollutants that are invisible to the naked eye (pollens, dust etc.) through the two-step PM2.5 particular filter. At the first stage of the purification, the catalyst filter can trap and neutralize chemical pollutants. The electrostatically charged paper in the second can trap invisible pollutants. In a test drive, a 2200-kilometre (KM) drive can clean up nearly 1500kL (kilolitres) of air. With its advanced technology, the Mirai is the vanguard of using hydrogen in transportation, which implies cleaner transportation in the future and benefits the environment.


According to Euro NCAP (2021), the Mirai is rated for five stars for overall safety. With Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.5+ features, the Mirai is equipped with a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection (PCS w/PD), dynamic radar cruise control (DRCC), lane departure alert with steering assist (LDA w/SA), land tracing assist (LTA), road sign assist (RSA), and automatic high beam (AHB). With PCS w/PD, the Mirai can identify not only pedestrians but cyclists and vehicles too. When a possible collision is detected, the system will send out a warning via audio or visual, if the warning is ignored, the system will use the emergency brake automatically. DRCC is mainly designed for long-distance trips, speeds can be set and the system will keep a safe distance from vehicles directly in front of the Mirai using vehicle-to-vehicle distance control. LDA w/SA can send out audio or visual warnings when inadequate space is caught by the system when departing the lane and helps to adjust the steering mildly to make sure the car is in the lane when the warning is ignored. LTA will be enabled during DRCC or lane markers are caught by the system, this allows the system to make sure the car is in the centre of its lane. RSA is a system embedded with a smart camera to catch traffic signs and show the icon captured on the multi-information display (MID). Last, with AHB, this system can detect the brightness of surroundings, headlights, and taillights of other vehicles and then, switch high to low beams automatically. Besides adequate safety features and advanced driver assistance technologies equipped in the Mirai, the body structure is also able to absorb and disperse the collision forces. The Mirai is relatively a safe car that meets safety requirements set by regulatory agencies worldwide.


Despite Mirai’s advanced technologies and safeness, there are still challenges making it accessible all around the world. The Mirai is now only available in the United Kingdom, United States, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, Norway and Japan. The main challenge is the lack of hydrogen fuelling centers (HFCs), there are only about 1000 HFCs around the world. China, Japan, and Korea are the top three countries with HFCs, and Germany is the only European country which has over 100 HFCs available (Sterling, 2023). Besides, there are still competing manufacturers with hydrogen fuel-cell cars, with such high demands for HFCs, the market of Toyota Mirai is still immature and unavailable in most countries. The difficulties of setting up a HFC are also a major factor, as hydrogen gas is a highly flammable gas. It is harder to be compressed and can be costly. According to Hydrogen Central (2023), to construct a HFC in California, the cost is estimated around 1.5 to 2 million US Dollars. 


In conclusion, hydrogen fuel-cell cars like the Toyota Mirai can represent a great step toward a greener and cleaner future. The challenges faced by infrastructure limitations and production costs; these will take a huge hurdle to overcome. With advancements in technologies nowadays, Toyota Mirai is giving hope and paths toward a more sustainable transportation.


Bibliography

Leow, J.-L. (2022, Dec 23). The Business Times. Retrieved from Toyota’s futuristic Mirai is still stuck in the future: https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/lifestyle/toyotas-futuristic-mirai-still-stuck-future

Hunting, B. (2023, March 13). SFGATE. Retrieved from Toyota Mirai Proves Hydrogen Will Always Be the Future: https://www.sfgate.com/cars/article/toyota-mirai-proves-hydrogen-is-the-future-17838006.php

Atiyeh, C. (n.d.). Car and Driver. Retrieved from 2024 Toyota Mirai: https://www.caranddriver.com/toyota/mirai

Toyota. (2020, Dec 9). Toyota Motor Corporation . Retrieved from Toyota Launches the New Mirai: https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/toyota/33558148.html

Toyota. (n.d.). Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. Retrieved from 2023 Toyota Mirai: https://www.toyota.com/mirai/

Halvorson, B. (2021, Feb 12). Green Car Reports. Retrieved from Toyota claims the 2021 Mirai fuel-cell car cleans the air, calls it "minus emissions": https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1131268_toyota-claims-the-2021-mirai-fuel-cell-car-cleans-the-air-calls-it-minus-emissions

Euro NCAP. (2021, September). Euro NCAP. Retrieved from Official Toyota Mirai 2021 safety rating: https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/toyota/mirai/43501

Sterling , V. (2023, May 16). Information Trends. Retrieved from Hydrogen Station Deployments Surpass 1,000 With China Leading the Way: https://informationtrends.com/global-market-for-hydrogen-fueling-stations-2023/press-release.php

Hydrogen Central. (2023, September 14). Hydrogen Industry News & Market Intelligence. Retrieved from What’s the average cost (BOP) of a Hydrogen Fuel Station? – Venair: https://hydrogen-central.com/whats-average-cost-bop-hydrogen-fuel-station-venair/#:~:text=It%20is%20estimated%20that%20at,around%201.5%2D2%20million%20USD.

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