TOYOTA will launch its all-new Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in Japan on December 15, before introducing it to selected European markets in September next year.
Mirai, which means future in Japanese, signals the start of a new age of vehicles for Toyota. It uses hydrogen, an important energy source, to generate electric power, delivering better environmental performance while giving customers the convenience and driving pleasure they expect.
Mirai uses the Toyota Fuel Cell System (TFCS), which brings together fuel cell and hybrid technologies. It includes Toyota’s new proprietary fuel cell stack and high-pressure hydrogen tanks.
The TFCS is more energy efficient than internal combustion engines and emits no CO² or pollutants when the vehicle is driven.
A generous cruising range and a hydrogen refuelling time of around three minutes provide the same level of convenience as a petrol-powered car.
Hydrogen has the be-nefit of being able to be generated from many different natural sources and man-made by products, even sewage sludge. It can also be created from water using natural, renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power.
When compressed, it has a higher energy density than batteries and it is relatively easy to store and transport. These qualities give it the potential to be used in the future for power generation and a wide range of other applications.
There are no plans for a local introduction at this stage, as South Africa does not have the necessary fuelling infrastructure.
