Posted on 05/12/2015 6:54:49 AM PDT by thackney
You expect a certain sort of magic from a car like Toyota's Mirai, the world's first mass-market, hydrogen-powered all-electric named after the Japanese word for "future." It maxes out at 300 miles, refuels in five minutes and spits out zero emissions except for water, all for tens of thousands of dollars less than Tesla's electric Model S.
But behind the wheel of the four-door Mirai, which California drivers can buy in October for around $50,000, what you get is something much more, well, boring: a smooth, quiet, mid-size sedan you wouldn't find out of place in a school pick-up circle. And that's what makes it so fascinating.
Toyota let us test-drive one of its prototypes this week, and it became clear why one of the world's biggest automakers is making a huge bet on hydrogen as a future fuel for the world's roads. The Mirai is responsive, futuristic, fully featured and fun to drive, the kind of car you can see beating gas guzzlers at their own game.
But the Mirai's journey to automotive acceptance is already dotted with a number of potholes, not the least of which is criticism from the most notable face in electric cars, Tesla founder Elon Musk, who has called hydrogen fuel cells "extremely silly," fool cells" and "bulls--t" (more on that in a minute)...
That helps get the Mirai up to a maximum driving range of around 300 miles, enough so that the typical driver wouldn't suffer "range anxiety" on a daily commute....
But opening up a number of hydrogen stations won't be easy, or cheap: Outfitting a single station for driver-ready hydrogen could cost about $1 million. Battery-powered, plug-in cars have a similar problem, though they can at least connect to the electric grid. There's nothing like that for hydrogen.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Except these hydrogen bombs... I mean hydrogen cars can explode. The electrocution... I mean electric cars can zap you. The only safe car is the car powered by baby seal’s fat. Barring that, good ole fracked oil is the way to go.
But opening up a number of hydrogen stations won’t be easy, or cheap: Outfitting a single station for driver-ready hydrogen could cost about $1 million. Battery-powered, plug-in cars have a similar problem, though they can at least connect to the electric grid. There’s nothing like that for hydrogen.
...
So maybe Musk is right, and comparing this car to the Tesla S isn’t fair either, since Tesla is planning a similar electric car that will cost less than the Toyota.
it beats california’s bullet train....
Until I can recharge a battery powered car in 5 minutes it will never work for me. I drive at least 220 miles per day and could easily double that if I have to jump in my car and go to a facility that has an emergency that requires hands on work be done. I cannot afford to wait 24 hours to charge a car. Hydrocarbon and fuel cells are the only option long term for many of us.
God stored solar energy in oil for us to use until we don’t need it anymore.
There is no reason why the Tesla, or even a Volt could not adapt this technology without redoing the whole car. The point of the fuel cell is to provide the electricity. Drive trains, etc. remain the same.
Volt would be a big change, since it is not a straight electric. It is a hybrid using the gasoline engine.
yeah, but you should see that S car go!
Thank you for phrasing your dissent in terms of “doesn’t work _for_me_” and “only option for _many_of_us_”. Too often these EV threads turn into “EVs are completely stupid with zero application or redeeming value.” Not every product is for everyone, and products that aren’t for everyone shouldn’t be derided as worthless to everyone. Polite dissent is appreciated.
Musk hates it because it has legs. Toyota didn’t need the government nipple in their mouth to build a car the way Musk did.
Hydrogen is not an economic fuel source.
Toyota Mirai needs hydrogen fuel – and government subsidies – to survive
http://mediarelations.cornell.edu/2014/11/18/toyota-mirai-needs-hydrogen-fuel-and-government-subsidies-to-survive/
“It is important to understand that both the Prius and the new Mirai depend heavily on government subsidies. The Prius received favorable tax subsidies and other significant benefits to boost sales.
“The Prius success in the U.S. found mass acceptance thanks to subsidies and California policies allowing the Prius to drive in the HOV car-pool lanes to avoid traffic jams. The new Mirai will get more than $17,300 in subsidies in Japan and $12,500 in the U.S. There are several cars available brand new for less than the subsidy paid by the government.
“Fuel cell vehicles are seen as the long term future for the auto industry but cost of development is prohibitively expensive and seen as only surviving the short term with subsidies.”
The irony is that our government will negotiate for the right for countries that threaten us to develop the means to gain the raw materials to manufacture nuclear weapons...
...while simultaneously restricting the one compound that makes using & storing hydrogen as a replacement for gasoline and the ‘battery-religion’ a viable alternative...
...all because this compound can amplify the effects of a nuclear weapon...if one has the means to manufacture & detonate it...
...in a society where our rights to even buy a gun are under assault, let alone acquiring the means to blow up a stupid tree stump on your own property...and the assault on the means to reload your own ammo...
‘Irony’ is but one word...
The new Volt uses mechanical connections from the engine to the wheels and is no longer a series type hybrid.
There’s a LOT of Hydrogen in natural gas. I wonder why Toyota wouldn’t consider adding the conversion step? That’s what most residential and commercial fuels cells do today.
It would make the cars a little more expensive. But, you’d have a chance of commercialization with a Natural Gas distribution system. I don’t ever see the public accepting Hydrogen fill-up stations.
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