The Japanese honcho, Toyota (TM, Financial), has always believed in the concept of kiazen when it came to manufacturing cars apt for the different regions of the world. Based on such beliefs, in 2012 the management had pledged to bring out a fuel celled vehicle and it had assumed that such a development could serve as a turning point in Toyota’s future. The day seems to have arrived in Toyota’s history with the management laying the wraps from the first ever FCV launched by Toyota nicknamed the "Mirai" that would be available on the roads of Japan in a matter of few weeks’ time. So, what are the features of this new car and can it dent the popularity of EVs in which Tesla (TSLA, Financial) remains the market leader. Let’s dive into the facts to get to the real answer.
The final countdown has begun
Toyota has finally released its vision of the future – the long awaited, 20 years in the making, fuel cell vehicle which follows the prototype of the FCV unveiled in the Tokyo auto show by Toyota in 2013.
Dubbed as the “Mirai” which refers to “future” in Japanese, the pre-production version of the vehicles is being test driven in the North American streets where Toyota hopes this new car could be a great hit, since U.S. government has been striving hard from over a few years to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels and has been advocating the use of alternative fuel resources.
Satoshi Ogiso, Managing officer of Toyota Motor Corporation, puts it this way – “If the name of your car is Future, it better look futuristic.” This indirectly reflects the new lease of life that Toyota has given to the FCV by providing it a different look and feel than its other gasoline-driven vehicles. The Mirai has got a sharp, angular hood that appears to be floating above the front end and has gigantic twin vents that ride on either side of the front bumper.
These vents are also functional sucking in huge quantities of oxygen required for the fuel stack to join the hydrogen in creating electricity, and the only emission that is water vapor is emitted out of the tailpipe.
Unmatched similarity to the Prius
The hybrid vehicle from Toyota’s workshop that has created ripples in the U.S. has been the Prius which has received several upgrades since its original launch in the States. Built on the same hybrid system, the Mirai might just work wonders for Toyota in the U.S. The company seems to have simply replaced the combustion engine with the fuel stack and hydrogen cells. The batteries and electric drive still remain the same.
The powertrain capabilities are exactly matching that of Toyota Prius with 151 horsepower and 247-lb-ft of torque from the electric motor, 153 hp from the fuel stack, top speed of 111 mph and 0-60 in 9.0 seconds.
Interestingly, this FCV has a range up to three times of an electric vehicle, and hydrogen fuel has much denser energy than gasoline. The Mirai could take the driver just over 300 miles with just 5 kilos of hydrogen, about the equivalent of 5 gallons of gasoline.
It would offer a smooth, effortless ride and offer a more comfortable driving experience with great driving dynamics even over the Prius hybrid in the market.
A less pricey offer
Besides having infused the car with familiar qualities from the Prius to make it more approachable and drivable for most drivers, Toyota has kept the price range affordable for the U.S. buyers. In fact, the price could compete with that of Tesla’s EVs which are referred to as the premium segment vehicles. The price would be around $57,500 which the company estimates to drop to a final purchase price of around $45,000 after rebates and incentives.
The biggest incentive being offered to early adopters is the 3 years of free hydrogen fuel offer which is too lucrative not to be chosen. So, rather than stall the rollout, FCV makers are giving the fuel away to entice buyers.
Final take
While Tesla has been actively advocating the growth of EVs, Toyota’s Mirai is about to hit the market in a matter of months and has a futuristic feel to it. Comparing its features, it seems to be a great buy provided there is enough infrastructure in place to promote its growth in the States. Let’s stay tuned and keep watching.
