murai fuel cell gets a video and plans for other states.

Really they were claiming 68 mpge just 5 years ago in a much less aerodynamic SUV #dontbelievethehydrogenhype
Toyota says its hydrogen-powered SUV gets 68 mpg

So did they go backwards? No probably not, the mirai is likely much more efficient. That "test" was really a publicity stunt and much easier than the EPA protocol. I would guess the slash gear test drive was more difficult than the epa test. When Toyota does do an epa test my guess is they will get around 62 mpge (61 miles/kg). That will likely be a tiny bit better than the gen IV prius that comes out at the same time, and will produce a little more ghg than said prius if we actually measured what the fueling infrastructure in california produced.

I expect that 99% of these mirai sold and leased in the US in the next 3 years do end up at a place where electricity is available. Poor people are not going to spend $500/mo to lease a car that takes more than 8 seconds to get to 60.

 

Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle: We test-drive the future! : TreeHugger

check. it looks like what people thought the future would look like decades ago What about looking good?

ouch so the driving experience of probably a camry hybrid xle loaded for the price of a lexus, that you can't move and still fuel. Now will the price drop fast.
Toyota Admits Cutting Costs of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology Further Will Be Tough - Transport Evolved: Cleaner, Greener, Safer and Smarter

happy thanksgiving

 

Nice

So how do you define crony capitalism? Government and industry are part of the same lobbying organization CFCP, check. Members of organization get government contracts, check (CFCP was shown to direct government hydrogen station dollars, they even seemed proud of that fact). Government subsidizes and buys the cars from lobby, check. Perfect example. In some cases this crony capitalism isn't bad (france and nuclear may be one example, where the nukes actually turned out cheaper as their isn't a free market for large coal or nuclear power plants), but often this is much worse than a market based approach.

The question is will anyone outside the lobby believe government demand really means that individuals want the technology or if it is as viable compared to alternatives.

The Model S vs. The Mirai: The Winner is … | Aftermarket Accessories for Tesla Model S

 

The lobby, CFCP, and CARB (non elected california air resources board, and member of the lobby) have been lying for over a decade on how ready to go the cars are. I don't mean being optimistic or subtle exaggerations, they have been telling out right lies. Even if their were 100 stations all giving out free fuel for life in california today, the cars would not be there. The fuel cell tech just is not ready and is too expensive. There is no chicken and egg problem, the problem is that fuel cell cost reductions were over promised and can not be delivered for at least a decade probably 3 (30 years).

Tech breakthroughs can come though and make the cars more affordable and desirable. I would not count them out. On fueling two technologies would make it much cheaper. First metal hydride storage would allow for cheaper stations and less energy to store and transport. The second methanol either through direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) on the cars, or from a breakthrough to reduce cost of methanol to hydrogen reformers. Even today reformers and methanol tanks are less expensive than the 10,000 psi hydrogen tanks used on these cars, but if they do use methanol today, it begs the question why not just burn the methanol in a hybrid that is much less expensive than a fcv. In the future though if fuel cell costs drop enough it will be easier for the lobby to admit methanol is a better solution than 10,000 psi hydrogen. DOE is funding research for all three technologies today (metal hydride storage of hydrogen, DMFC, and methanol to hydrogen portable reformers.