Mirai, Toyota’s first hydrogen-powered production car, has amassed an exceptional 1,500 orders in its first month on sale in Japan. Due for introduction in the UK later this year, the ground-breaking saloon has far exceeded expectations: Toyota’s initial plan was to sell about 400 units by the end of this year.
These early adopters of Toyota’s hydrogen fuel cell technology will be the first to experience a new chapter in zero-emissions driving. Mirai’s motor is powered by electricity generated through a chemical reaction between air-borne oxygen and hydrogen in an on-board fuel cell.
The car combines excellent environmental performance – the only tailpipe emission is water – with a fun-to-drive character. Its market launch has the potential to further accelerate energy diversification and help build a future society in which hydrogen is a core energy source.
To help encourage the development of hydrogen-fuelled vehicles, Toyota recently made thousands of its global hydrogen fuel cell patents available to others, free of any royalties.
