Cars and mobility
Today we present you yet another electric car. Except that it is not like the others: this one, we do not recharge it, we fill it up. In five minutes!
By Stéphane Wamat
Here is the second generation of the Toyota Mirai which, as the finest automotive connoisseurs already know, is what is commonly referred to as a hydrogen car. To the others, allow us to explain.
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Unlike a “classic” electric car, the Mirai does not carry quintals of batteries. Under the hood, it hides a fuel cell, an advanced technology which chemically recombines the oxygen in the air and the hydrogen contained in its tanks, thus producing its own electricity and… water vapor. The advantage over batteries is that instead of plugging in the car for several hours, you get 100% autonomy (650 km for the new version) by filling up with hydrogen at the pump in five minutes. But, you will ask, where is this hydrogen found? Here is the problem. Currently, there are only two stations in Belgium. Colruyt (DATS 24) has just announced the opening of five additional units by June 2021. It remains little, but little by little, the bird is making its nest, and hydrogen is currently benefiting from numerous public and private investments .
A “hydrogen car” sounds futuristic, but driving the Toyota Mirai is like driving any car with an automatic transmission. It is all that is normal, with a steering wheel, pedals, speedometers (digital of course), a connected multimedia system and the usual driving aids. So, must that be horribly expensive? All is relative. The new Toyota Mirai will cost around 63,000 euros when it arrives in dealerships in early 2021, 20% less than the first generation. Knowing that in Belgium, hydrogen is less than 10 euros / kg and that the Mirai carries 5.6 kg, that makes about 55 euros for 600 km, roughly the same ratio as for a petrol sedan of the same cut.
Here is a futuristic car, well priced, no less economical than any other, but infinitely cleaner. The technology is ready for the consumer. Now, “it’s all about”!
The opinion of the Lamarche family
“We already knew the first Mirai and, frankly, she was not beautiful! The change is therefore radical, and that’s good. However, let’s be clear: as it stands, this is not for us. First, we don’t have an H2 station nearby. Then, we note that in this car of 5 meters long, the rear seats are more narrow than in some city cars, and the trunk is fairly average. Okay, that’s because of the amount of technology required for the fuel cell, but we’ll wait until that technology is even a little more miniaturized… and cheaper. Still, it’s remarkable and, in our opinion, much more practical than a battery-powered car. “
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The opinion of the eco-driving expert
Remarkable technology! Of course, you will read here and there that the overall ecological balance of hydrogen is questionable, but ultimately not more than that of the battery-powered electric car. What about eco-driving? Nothing special, the principles are always the same: anticipate, let go of the accelerator to let the car go on its momentum as much as possible, do not accelerate brutally … And the 650 km promised will not be far. In any case, we believe in the hydrogen car very much.
Technical data
L/l/h (mm) : 4 975/1 885/1 480
5 places
1 900 kg
Electric motor, powered by hydrogen fuel cell
Power: 184 ch
Couple : 300 Nm
WLTP Consumption: NC
H2 tank: 5.6 kg (142.2 liters)
Battery life: approx. 650 km
Price: approx. 63,920 euros incl.
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