The Toyota Mirai appears to be a bit of an enigma. It is not particularly beautiful, not particularly cheap, - and where did the hydrogen stations in Oslo become? Still, there's something about the Mirai that appeals to me.

 

Camry at the bottom

Mirai shares chassis, electric motor and hybrid components with Camry hybrid XV50 (2012-2015). The wheelbase is the same as in the Camry, but to accommodate the fuel cells, hydrogen tanks and battery pack, the front and rear overhangs have been increased. The designers of Toyota's first series-produced hydrogen car were not given free rein. Maybe they could have built hydrogen power into the existing Camry, but how wise is it to introduce new cutting-edge technology into an old winner? Then it was safer to create a new design and give the hydrogen project more attention.

Why only four seats?

Why are there only four seats in the Mirai? What is hidden under the large center console between the rear seats? After studying photos and film clips from various phases of the production, I can't see any vital parts there. The answer lies in the heritage of the Camry. The Mirai has also inherited the Camry's overall weight. Equipped for hydrogen operation, the car simply cannot withstand the weight of five adults.
 
The leather-covered rear seats provide first-class comfort. I wouldn't mind being driven home in a Mirai Taxi, but unfortunately lack of space - and weight restrictions - become an obstacle to success in the taxi industry. A shame, because comfort is actually one of the Mirai's strongest cards. On 17-inch studless Nokian winter tires, the car literally runs silently within the city speed limits. The Camry would hardly have been among America's top three car models over a number of years if the chassis did not deliver a comfortable "ride". Mirai enjoys it.

What signals does Mirai send?

I mentioned that there is something about the Mirai that appeals to me. The front seems somewhat vulgar with its large air intakes and vertical lines. I think they harmonize poorly with the aerodynamic, flattering lines that otherwise appear in the side profile. Corresponding vertical lines are found at the transition between the rear screen and the back piece. The disharmony in the lines, if you can call it that the, also helps to give the car a tough and functional feel. One can certainly defend the vulgar air intakes by saying that fuel cells need a lot of oxygen and apparently a lot of cooling, too.
 
So what appeals to me? I like cars that stand out, that have character and that are not too common. You'd think the Mirai looks like it does, because it runs on hydrogen. Perhaps that was the designers' intention? Other hydrogen-powered cars, such as the Hyundai ix35, look like a normal ix35. The new Hyundai Nexo Fuel Cell also looks pretty normal. The Mirai, on the other hand, stands out.
 
Mirai's CW value is 0,29. It's like a normal, good family car. The Toyota Prius and Hyundai Ioniq have, by comparison, 0,24.

 

Wrong technology?

Today, there is a lot of focus on what is the "right" technology. If you choose the wrong technology, you may have problems selling your car in the future. The number of hydrogen stations has unfortunately decreased. Today, I believe that the Oslo area's only hydrogen station is at Kjørbo in Sandvika. With a stated range of 550 km, you shouldn't drive more than 400-450 km between each fill-up. Thus, hydrogen cars are not suitable for all types of driving. Hydrogen is undoubtedly the "wrong technology", at least today. You should therefore not purchase hydrogen car, but rather lease or rent. The car collective previously had the Mirai in its fleet, but has had to give it up due to problems finding hydrogen stations.

No big seller

Over the past few months, it may look like the new Tesla 3 is about to take the US by storm, especially in California, of course. In January (2019), 6 Tesla 500s were sold in the USA. At the same time, 3 Toyota Mirai and 77 Hyundai Nexo were sold. There will be approximately 35 hydrogen stations in California. In the rest of the United States, there are almost none. In Norway, registration number HY31 has recently been issued. A quick search shows that many number series are unused, such is the number of hydrogen cars on the road today not 340. I would assume that the real number is half. 134 hydrogen cars were registered in 2016 and 2017.
 
Hydrogen is ideal for company vehicles that are more or less in constant operation - or in constant readiness. Sales are unlikely to increase until you start to see a network of hydrogen stations. Still tax relief, zero emissions and the possibility to thought instead of charging, are good arguments for hydrogen.
 

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Hydrogen cars are hardly just a fad. Visions of getting the entire car fleet to zero emissions cannot be realized with a unilateral investment in electric cars, neither in Norway nor in the rest of the world. Therefore, I hope Toyota continues its investment in hydrogen.

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Drive and performance

Horsepower: 154
Torque: 335 from 0 revs
Top speed: 175 km/6
0-100: 9,6 seconds

Weights and Measures

Length, width, height in cm: 489, 181, 154
Wheelbase in cm: 278
Track width front, rear in cm: 154, 155
Luggage compartment: 361 litres
Trailer weight: Not possible
Own weight: 1850 kg
Total weight: 2180 kg

Price

559.000 NOK

Technique

When the fuel cells are supplied with hydrogen and oxygen, a reaction takes place that produces electricity – and clean water. The electricity is distributed to the electric motor and to the battery pack. It is the size of the battery packs in today's hybrid cars and is supplied with electricity, including by recovering braking power.

In the picture, the fuel cells are located directly under the seat cushions. There are two hydrogen tanks, one for filling and one for expansion. One tank is located directly under the seat cushions in the rear seat, the other (not visible in the picture) is located between the back of the rear seat and the luggage compartment, directly behind the rear axle. Above, up to the rear seat back is the battery pack.

Sources

Toyota.no
Owner of pictured cars: Toyota Business Plus, Økern
Test drives and viewings were on occasion The car collective and Oslo City Council's inauguration of reserved parking spaces for car sharing at Damplassen, Ullevål Hageby.

Toyota Mirai pictures

Click on the images to see them in a larger format.

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