Key Takeaways
- Toyota stands out by offering a mix of alternative fuel options including hydrogen in addition to electrified vehicles.
- The limited availability of hydrogen fueling stations makes buying a hydrogen-fueled car a challenging proposition.
- Toyota reaffirmed its commitment to hydrogen with its new H2HQ Hydrogen Headquarters.
Toyota has taken a unique approach to alternative fuels. Many automakers are rushing to ditch gas vehicles and focus on EVs. Toyota is keeping a mix of options in its lineup with gas, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric, and even hydrogen vehicles.
2024 Toyota Mirai Limited Sedan
- MSRP
-
$67,115
- Engine
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Hydrogen Fuel Cell
- Drivetrain
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Rear-Wheel Drive
- Transmission
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Single Speed Automatic
- Horsepower
-
182 hp
- Torque
-
221 lb-ft
That’s a broad offering with the Mirai one of only a few hydrogen fuel cell vehicles sold in the US alongside the Hyundai Nexo. It’s also not widely available. Unless you live in California, you can’t even buy one, and there are limited options for where you can refuel. It doesn’t seem like a good bet, but recent news has Toyota reaffirming its commitment to hydrogen.
Renewable Energy
Today, FuelCell Energy announced the grand opening of a new facility at the Port of Long Beach. Its Tri-gen system uses biogas to produce usable water, renewable electricity, and renewable hydrogen and will be supporting Toyota at its distribution center in Long Beach, California.
Related
Toyota Benefits As California Falls Out Of Love With EVs
Registrations for new hybrids took a jump in California while electric registrations slowed.
“This will be Toyota’s first port vehicle processing facility powered by 100 percent on-site generated renewable electricity,” – Zachary Reed, East Coast Communications Manager, Toyota.
Roughly 200,000 Toyota and Lexus vehicles pass through this facility every year. This includes the Mirai, which will be fueled at this private facility before heading off to Toyota customers. Zachary Reed, East coast Communications manager for Toyota told CarBuzz, “We’re helping reduce emissions at this processing facility.”
Hydrogen Headquarters
This follows an announcement just yesterday that Toyota’s R&D offices will now be its North American Hydrogen Headquarters (H2HQ). “We are reaffirming our commitment to hydrogen,” said Reed. These offices will lead Toyota’s efforts to develop hydrogen fuel cell technologies.
“We have been working to develop products that help support infrastructure build out as much as we can.” – Zachary Reed, East Coast Communications Manager, Toyota.
He acknowledged that there are challenges with that infrastructure, similar to the challenges found with electric vehicle chargers. Still, Toyota’s commitment to hydrogen is firm, and it will continue to fuel-cell vehicle as a consumer option. “We think we have a great vehicle in the Mirai,” he said.
#Toyota #AllIn #Hydrogen
