Featured Exclusive Photos of the New 2021 Toyota Mirai!!

maybe they'll have a diesel tractor hauling a hydrogen tank ... or a bunch ..... to go w/them along the way. That's not new, I think they did a stunt like that before .... to show how practical hydrogen transportation is

 

I heard that hydrogen trucks do well going downhill

Mike

 

The number of new Superchargers, new Electrify America (VW), new ChargePoints and others dwarfs the number of new hydrogen stations. Seriously, when people go to work they sing Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it off to work we go all over the country. Meanwhile, what are there...about 7 hydrogen stations, one for each dwarf?

Mike

 

if you're stuck in vegas, getting back to LA 'all in good time' is probably sufficient

 

And what is the reason for that?

Even lower demand elsewhere?
Lack of production capacity?
Too expensive to construct H2 stations in more than a few places?
The technology is still in beta and they don't want lots of costly recalls?
Every car is sold at a huge loss so they don't want to make too many?
Waiting for government help in other states?
Waiting for other car companies to show up?
Waiting for the price of H2 to go from ridiculously high to just too high?
All of the above?
Several of the above?

Mike

 

I have to watch my gasoline car in the cold and rain and wind now. Why continue that when there is an option to plug it in , and go inside?

 

irony, talkin about Kool-Aid - while continually referring to a vehicle that is such a minuscule component any type of real economic or environmental sustainability
.

 

It's kind of good to be on the expensive side, with the amenities to match. More likely to get a customer with multiple cars at home who can more easily deal with the logistics of driving a hydrogen car.

Pretty good lease rates on the base Nexo right now. Wife didn't like how it drove sadly. (Beginning to wonder if she just doesn't like the feel of any SUV, which I started noticing in 2017 when we ended up leasing an Alfa Romeo Giulia vs a Stelvio).

As an energy source hydrogen has a benefit of high energy density. Let the naysayers vent... BEVs in their infancy had a quite similar outlook. Time will tell...

moto g(7) power ?

 

Don't have any answers to his questions then.

That was Tesla's business plan after all. Though Tesla didn't price their cars under production costs. Early statements from Toyota on the Mirai said that the price was going to be much closer to the Model S's of the time.

Considering the current car market, I am a little surprised the Nexo isn't doing better than it is.

No, hydrogen has a high specific energy(energy per unit of mass), a kilogram has roughly the same energy as a gallon of gasoline. It's energy density(energy per volume) is pretty lousy. That kilogram at sea level and room temperature takes up over 420 cubic feet. It has to be compressed under very high pressure or liquified to be usable for a vehicle.

The current Mirai holds about 5kg of hydrogen, which is equivalent to 5 gallons of gasoline. The tanks to hold that hydrogen at 10k psi are the reason why a car as big as a Camry on the outside is as big as a Yaris on the inside. The relative efficiency of a fuel cell compared to an engine is why it gets away with carrying so little fuel per tank, and even then, most gasoline cars out range it.

The specific energy and energy density of batteries aren't that great either, but the BEV's are even more efficient, and battery packs can made to conform to available space in the car's chassis. That isn't possible with high pressure vessels. They have to stick to round shapes, spheres and cylinders, or they start getting heavier than they already are.

 

I've owned a Sonic, and found it more comfortable driving in than any Toyota I've owned, including the Camry.
But that has nothing to do with the fact that the Mirai is in the EPA subcompact size, and it is because the hydrogen tanks need all that space.

Compare the numbers for yourself.
https://www.toyota.com/yaris/features/mpg/6267/6263/6268
Toyota Mirai Features and Specs

 

My Sonic was large and comfortable on the inside.
The EPA classification is based on interior volume. Click the links I posted, and you will see that the Yaris has a bigger trunk and a smidge more cabin space. Toyota is the one that measured both cars.
Others call it midsize because of the exterior size. A midsize platform was needed to fit the fuel cell and tanks. One of those tanks is under the rear seat.

 

Since links couldn't be clicked.

	Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
0		Mirai	Yaris
1	cabin space(cu.ft.)	85.7	85.9
2	head room front(in)	38.5	38.2
3	shoulder room front(in)	54.3	53.1
4	leg room front(in)	42.5	41.9
5	hip room front(in)	53.4	48.6
6	head room rear(in)	36.8	36.8
7	shoulder room rear(in)	53.5	50.0
8	leg room rear(in)	30.1	34.4
9	hip room rear(in)	52.4	49.5

Toyota doesn't post shoulder room, so went here, Toyota Yaris Features and Specs for the Yaris.

The Yaris has almost a gallon and a half more volume in the passenger cabin. Most of that is likely because of the 5 vs 4 seats. As a wider car, the Mirai has much better shoulder and hip room. But there it has no advantage in the cabin despite being taller, and having a much longer wheel base. It appears to even sacrifice rear leg room for the front.

How spacious a car feels is like seat comfort, it comes down to the individual. Arrangement of the center console and arm rests will also play a part. The flying bridge of the gen3 Prius can feel confining to some, for example.

 

What about trunk space?

Mike