Does the Toyota Mirai take gas?
No, the Toyota Mirai does not take gasoline. The Mirai is a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), which means it is powered by hydrogen rather than traditional gasoline or diesel fuel.
What is the Toyota Mirai?
The Toyota Mirai is a mid-size sedan that was first introduced in 2014. It is one of the first mass-produced hydrogen fuel cell vehicles available to consumers. Unlike traditional gasoline-powered cars, the Mirai uses hydrogen gas to generate electricity, which then powers an electric motor to drive the wheels.
How Does the Toyota Mirai Work?
The Mirai's hydrogen fuel cell system works as follows:
- Hydrogen gas is stored in high-pressure tanks on the vehicle.
- When the driver presses the accelerator, the hydrogen flows into the fuel cell stack, where it reacts with oxygen to produce electricity.
- This electricity then powers an electric motor, which drives the wheels and propels the vehicle forward.
- The only byproduct of this process is water vapor, making the Mirai a zero-emission vehicle.
Since the Mirai does not use any gasoline, it does not have a traditional internal combustion engine or fuel tank. Instead, it is refueled by connecting it to a hydrogen fueling station, similar to how an electric vehicle is recharged at a charging station.
Benefits of the Toyota Mirai
The key benefits of the Toyota Mirai include:
- Zero Emissions: As a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, the Mirai produces no direct emissions, making it an environmentally-friendly option.
- Refueling Speed: Hydrogen refueling takes only a few minutes, similar to refueling a gasoline-powered car, unlike the longer charging times required for battery electric vehicles.
- Long Range: The Mirai has an EPA-estimated range of up to 402 miles on a full tank of hydrogen, comparable to traditional gasoline vehicles.
While the Mirai represents an innovative approach to sustainable transportation, the limited availability of hydrogen fueling stations remains a challenge for wider adoption of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
Why is Mirai so cheap?
The Toyota Mirai is cheap because its low resale value is driven by a severely limited hydrogen refueling infrastructure, making it impractical for most people, and high hydrogen fuel costs. Additional factors include faster-than-average depreciation due to rapidly evolving technology and a niche market, along with government incentives that lower the initial price but may affect long-term investment potential.
Key factors contributing to low prices
- Limited hydrogen infrastructure: The U.S. has very few hydrogen fueling stations, with most located in California, and these stations frequently have operational issues, leading to shortages and an unreliable supply.
- High fuel costs: Even where stations are available, the cost of hydrogen is high, making the total cost of ownership expensive and offsetting potential savings, notes this YouTube video.
- Rapid depreciation: As a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in a niche market, the Mirai has a very high depreciation rate. Early models have lost a significant percentage of their value, often exceeding 80% within five years.
- Market saturation: Many used Mirais are lease returns, creating an oversupply in the used market that drives prices down further.
- Government incentives: Incentives, such as free hydrogen fuel for several years, can lower the initial purchase price, but the value of these incentives can decrease over time as fuel prices increase, making the car less appealing for future owners, says Top Speed.
- Concerns about maintenance and reliability: Potential owners are often deterred by concerns about long-term reliability and high repair costs associated with hydrogen fuel cell technology.
Is Toyota Mirai gas or electric?
The Toyota Mirai is neither gas nor electric; it is a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV). It uses hydrogen from an onboard tank to generate electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen, which powers the car and emits only water vapor. It is a type of electric vehicle that does not need to be plugged in, and refueling with hydrogen is quick, similar to filling up a gas car.
- How it works: Hydrogen gas is pumped into the car and combines with oxygen from the air in a fuel cell stack to create electricity.
- Power: The electricity is used to power the vehicle, just like a battery-electric car, and a small battery also captures energy from regenerative braking.
- Emissions: The only emission from the tailpipe is water.
- Fueling: It is refueled by filling its hydrogen tanks at a special station, a process that takes only about five minutes.
How much does it cost to fill up Mirai?
Filling up a Toyota Mirai can cost approximately $175 to $202, depending on the current hydrogen fuel price, which can be volatile. For example, a price of $36$ 36$36 per kilogram, combined with the Mirai's 5.6 kg tank, equals $201.60$ 201.60$201.60. The cost is significantly higher than it used to be and much higher than for a comparable electric vehicle.
- Current cost: A full tank can cost around $201.60$ 201.60$201.60 if hydrogen is priced at $36$ 36$36 per kilogram.
- Price per kilogram: Recent prices have been reported to be around $36$ 36$36 per kilogram, a significant increase from earlier prices.
- Comparison to electric vehicles: It is reportedly 14 times more expensive to operate a hydrogen car like the Mirai compared to a comparable electric vehicle in California.
- Free fuel incentives: Many new Mirai purchases include a substantial fuel credit, often around $15,000$ 15 comma 000$15,000 worth of free hydrogen fuel, which can cover the cost for several years.
Do you put gas in a Toyota Mirai?
No, the Toyota Mirai does not use gasoline; it is a fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) that runs on hydrogen gas. It generates its own electricity onboard by combining hydrogen from its tanks with oxygen from the air, with water being the only byproduct.
- Fuel source: The Mirai is powered by hydrogen gas, not gasoline.
- Power generation: A fuel cell stack in the car uses hydrogen and oxygen to create electricity, which then powers the vehicle's electric motor.
- Emissions: The only tailpipe emission from the Mirai is water vapor.
- Refueling: It is refueled at a hydrogen station, similar to how a gasoline car is refueled at a gas station.
