Photo: Toyota
We’re not sure how many still remember it was Toyota that started all this electrified vehicle craze with the introduction of the hybrid Prius way back in 1997. But Toyota somehow got lost along the way, and now it’s losing big in the EV segment.
There are plans to change that though, and the carmaker will launch several battery EVs in the not-so-distant future. But that doesn’t mean it will give up on innovative ideas.
Since 2015, the Toyota Mirai is about the only mass-produced hydrogen-powered cars on the market, despite attempts from other companies to build their own.
We’re not sure why that’s so, because when looking at the greater picture, hydrogen beats electric at least in one significant respect: these cars generate their own electricity, so there’s no need to keep it plugged in for possibly hours on end – filling a hydrogen tanks takes about 5 minutes.
The present generation Mirai preforms so-so, barely managing to sell some 1,700 cars per year in the U.S. But as of late 2020, a new generation will hit the market, and there are big plans for this one.
On Thursday (October 10), Toyota unveiled the pre-production version of the second-generation Mirai, a better looking, more high-tech car that promises to deliver about 30 percent more range than the 312 miles achieved presently. That should be around 400 miles, which is amazing.
Build on a rear-wheel-drive architecture instead of a front-wheel one, the new Mirai is lower, longer, and wider, and looks more like a coupe than your average sedan. It uses an updated powertrain, can store more hydrogen and features all the technological advancements of the age, including a 12.3-inch touchscreen and a JBL sound system.
Toyota says deliveries of the new Mirai will start in late 2020, and the model is intended as a companion to the line of regular, battery-powered electric cars.
Since 2015, the Toyota Mirai is about the only mass-produced hydrogen-powered cars on the market, despite attempts from other companies to build their own.
We’re not sure why that’s so, because when looking at the greater picture, hydrogen beats electric at least in one significant respect: these cars generate their own electricity, so there’s no need to keep it plugged in for possibly hours on end – filling a hydrogen tanks takes about 5 minutes.
The present generation Mirai preforms so-so, barely managing to sell some 1,700 cars per year in the U.S. But as of late 2020, a new generation will hit the market, and there are big plans for this one.
On Thursday (October 10), Toyota unveiled the pre-production version of the second-generation Mirai, a better looking, more high-tech car that promises to deliver about 30 percent more range than the 312 miles achieved presently. That should be around 400 miles, which is amazing.
Build on a rear-wheel-drive architecture instead of a front-wheel one, the new Mirai is lower, longer, and wider, and looks more like a coupe than your average sedan. It uses an updated powertrain, can store more hydrogen and features all the technological advancements of the age, including a 12.3-inch touchscreen and a JBL sound system.
Toyota says deliveries of the new Mirai will start in late 2020, and the model is intended as a companion to the line of regular, battery-powered electric cars.
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