How does Toyota Mirai work?
The Toyota Mirai is a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) that uses hydrogen as its primary fuel source. Unlike traditional gasoline-powered cars or battery electric vehicles (BEVs), the Mirai generates its own electricity on-board through a chemical reaction in its fuel cell stack, allowing it to have a longer driving range and faster refueling times compared to BEVs.
How the Mirai's Fuel Cell System Works
The Mirai's fuel cell system consists of the following key components:
- Hydrogen Fuel Tank: The Mirai stores compressed hydrogen gas in high-pressure tanks located under the vehicle. This provides the fuel for the fuel cell stack.
- Fuel Cell Stack: The heart of the Mirai's powertrain is the fuel cell stack, which combines hydrogen from the fuel tank with oxygen from the air to produce electricity through an electrochemical reaction.
- Electric Motor: The electricity generated by the fuel cell stack powers an electric motor, which in turn drives the Mirai's wheels.li>
- Battery: The Mirai also has a small lithium-ion battery pack that stores excess electricity generated by the fuel cell and provides additional power during acceleration or hill climbing.
When the driver presses the accelerator, the fuel cell stack generates electricity to power the electric motor. The only byproduct of this process is water vapor, making the Mirai a zero-emission vehicle.
Refueling the Mirai
Refueling the Mirai is similar to refueling a traditional gasoline car, but with hydrogen instead of gasoline. The Mirai can be refueled in about 5 minutes at a dedicated hydrogen fueling station, providing a driving range of up to 402 miles (647 km). This is significantly faster than the hours-long charging times required for battery electric vehicles.
The Mirai's fuel cell system and hydrogen storage tanks have been engineered for safety, with multiple redundant safety systems to prevent leaks or explosions. Hydrogen is also a clean-burning fuel that does not produce any greenhouse gas emissions when used in a fuel cell vehicle.
