The 2015-2016 model year Toyota Mirai hydrogen sedan was put into mass production by the company, and became available to customers in Japan on December 14, 2014. The new innovative four-seater Toyota Mirai sedan with a fantastic Toyota hydrogen engine The FC Stack, which generates electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, has become a production option thanks to the concept Toyota FCV and Toyota FCV-R, on which the Japanese have been polishing the hydrogen technology of the future for several years. The Mirai sedan (translated into Russian as the future) is currently only available in Japan. Price Toyota Mirai, however, is from 7.236 million yen (about 61,500 US dollars), but the Japanese government allocates a subsidy of 2 million yen (17 thousand dollars) to each buyer.
It is interesting that despite the high price of Toyota Mirai, the number of those wishing to purchase a novelty with a hydrogen engine, only by preliminary orders, significantly exceeded the planned production of cars. In the summer of 2015, Toyota Mirai will appear in North America, and possibly by the end of next year in Europe. In Russia, a new car with a hydrogen engine from Toyota most likely will not be officially sold.
Official photo and video materials, as well as technical information provided by the Japanese manufacturer, indicate that the name of the Toyota Mirai (Toyota Future) sedan fits perfectly.
The new hydrogen sedan Toyota Mirai 2015-2016 - with an original, even fantastic exterior design, emphasized by an exclusively two-tone body color. The main body surfaces of the sedan can be painted in one of six colors - White Pearl (white), Precious Silver (silver), Pure Blue (cyan), Dark Blue Mica (dark blue), Dark Red Mica (dark red) or Precious Black Pearl (black), but the roof, front and rear roof pillars, door glass frames, a thin insert between the hood and front fenders, stripes on the rear-view mirror housings, air intake grilles in the front bumper are only black and graphite.
The front of the Toyota Mirai body with ultra-narrow headlights, behind the glasses of each of which there are four LED lamps (dipped beam and high beam), a huge streamlined bumper with a classic horizontal air intake, and a pair of giant vertical air ducts with garlands of LED strips that meet for daytime running lights, and direction indicators. Large air intakes are designed to provide an influx of a huge amount of oxygen necessary for the operation and cooling of the FC stack hydrogen plant.
The body profile of the innovative Japanese Toyota Mirai sedan captivates with graceful lines and stampings, an original roofline and an unconventional rear end solution. Powerful bursts of waves running into the stern of the car give the sedan an incomparable look.
And let the back of the body of the Japanese hydrogen sedan look a little heavy due to the massive marker lights (LED filling with 3D effect), a large trunk lid with a chic LED strip and a huge bumper, but ... how cool and original the feed looks.
- External dimensions of the Toyota Mirai body are 4890 mm long, 1815 mm wide, 1535 mm high, with a 2780 mm wheelbase.
- With standard tires size 215/55R17 on light-alloy rims size 17, front wheel track - 1535 mm, rear wheel track - 1545 mm, ground clearance (clearance) - 130 mm.
The interior of the new Japanese hydrogen-powered sedan is no less stylish and modern than the body of the car. The interior of the sedan is four-seater, for the driver and front passenger there are comfortable seats with an anatomical back profile, unobtrusive lateral support and electric adjustment in 8 directions. In the second row there is a luxurious sofa, divided by a powerful armrest into two zones.
A decent wheelbase of 2780 mm and a competent internal layout made it possible to create a solid cabin size of 2040 mm in length, 1465 mm in width and 1185 mm in height. On any of the four seats can be accommodated comfortably, with a margin in all directions, the convenience of landing in the car interior is provided by wide doorways and doors that open at an angle of 80 degrees.
Let's go back to the first row and evaluate the level of modern equipment installed on the Toyota Mirai. In front of the driver there is a compact multifunctional steering wheel, on top of the central panel in the center of the dashboard there is an electronic multifunctional instrument panel with a 4.2-inch color screen, just below the 9-inch color touch screen of the multimedia installation (navigation, telephone, rear view camera, music , voice control).
The most interesting thing on the center console is the electrostatic control panel, which is responsible for setting the dual-zone climate control, heated steering wheel and all seats, as well as for activating a host of other auxiliary equipment.
All of the above equipment, except for an advanced multimedia system, is standard for the Toyota Mirai sedan. However, like the Pre-collision System electronic security systems (frontal collision warning system with emergency braking function), adaptive cruise control, parking sensors, keyless entry, Lane Departure Alert System (warning system about crossing the axial and side marking lines), Blind Spot Monitor (control of objects in the blind areas of mirrors), Drive-start Control limits, Hill Start Assist, ABS, EBD, VSC, TRC, nine airbags, including for the driver's legs.
Specifications Toyota Mirai imply the use of super modern Toyota Fuel Cell System (TFCS) technology. The basic principle of a hydrogen engine is to use hydrogen as a fuel to generate electricity. The operation of a hydrogen engine on a car is provided by two hydrogen tanks (front 60 liters, rear 62.4 liters), hydrogen fuel entering the Toyota FC Stack (polymer electrolyte fuel cell) is mixed with oxygen and forms water and electricity during a chemical reaction.
The resulting electricity can be stored in batteries or go directly to power an electric motor (154 hp 335 Nm) that rotates the front wheels.
The presence of super modern equipment and batteries makes the hydrogen sedan quite heavy. The curb weight of the car is 1850 kg, while the carrying capacity of the car is only 220 kg. But the hydrogen sedan is capable of accelerating to 100 mph in 10 seconds and gaining a top speed of 175 mph.
The most interesting thing is that the supply of hydrogen fuel is enough to overcome 650 kilometers, the refueling time takes only 3 minutes, and the car does not pollute the atmosphere with harmful emissions, but simply pours ordinary water on the road.
https://youtu.be/E5QztodzHfk
Toyota Mirai is equipped with an electric power steering, independent front suspension with MacPherson struts, semi-independent rear suspension with a torsion beam, all-wheel disc brakes with a brake energy recovery system.
Toyota Motor Corporation is confident in the reliability of its hydrogen creation and offers an 8-year warranty on high-tech equipment and the entire vehicle.
November of this year has become significant in many respects. A number of automakers presented their new products, which promise to become incredibly popular and in demand in the near future.
Nevertheless, against the background of other cars, I would like to especially note the creation of Toyota, which is called Toyota Mirai. It would seem to be a pretty nice modern car. But not everything in it is so simple. Its key feature lies in the power unit, which runs on hydrogen.
In principle, the name of the model was chosen for a reason. Translated from the Japanese company's native language, Mirai means the future.
Due to the operation of a special engine with fuel cells, energy is generated. This becomes possible due to a fairly simple chemical reaction - hydrogen interacts with oxygen, which sets the car in motion. The most interesting thing is that there is no smoke coming out of the exhaust pipes, which is dangerous for the environment. From there, water just pours out.
Unlike hybrid and all-electric vehicles, which take hours to charge, the Toyota Mirai only takes about five minutes to fill a full tank.
Today's review will not be quite ordinary, as the focus will be on the history of hydrogen cars from Toyota, as well as some features of the Mirai model. However, we can still get a little familiar with the appearance.
Exterior
Externally, the car is made in the new global style of the manufacturer. Because Toyota Mirai is quite similar to the current versions of the Corolla and Avensis models, and there is also something from the current Lexus.
The front part does not have traditional lines at all. In general, it is rather difficult to describe, therefore we advise you to look at photos and video materials in order to understand us. Ahead we see the nameplate of a Japanese company placed in the center, and its inner part is made in blue. And this is not just so, but due to the fact that the machine is hydrogen. As you know, water is displayed in this color, as a rule.
Large bumper with air intakes, wide triangular openings at the edges, where fog lights are usually simply and quietly located. Here everything is based on the intake of a large amount of air. This is what caused such an appearance of the front.
And the side view is quite traditional and familiar to the eyes. Large comfortable doors, high window sills, medium-sized wheel arches, stylish exterior rear-view mirrors, complemented by turn signal repeaters.
At the back, we note stylish optics, large lampshades for side lights, a well-designed trunk lid and a good bumper. If you close your eyes to the front, the car will get a classic Toyota appearance. But it is the front part that takes us into the future, forms the impression of futurism.
Interior
Inside, the car also combines the classic solutions of our time and takes you at the same time into the future. Stylish multi-function steering wheel, centrally located instrument panel using a large display rather than traditional wells.
Air conditioning vents, center console with large touch screen, central tunnel. Everything looks bright, interesting and unusual. The driver will have to get acquainted with a lot of buttons and controls again, since a number of solutions are unconventional, they are not provided in cars with classic power units.
The seats are comfortable, have pronounced lateral support.
The back row has a comfortable accommodation for three passengers, judging by the manufacturer's statements. Whether this is actually so - we will find out a little later.
Are there any competitors?
The hydrogen car is a new and unknown concept for many. Although in fact, Toyota is not the only company that is engaged in such developments.
Although Toyota Mirai has only one real competitor. But he hasn't been released yet. We are talking about a car from Honda, which is called FCV. Its appearance is expected in March 2016. By then, Toyota will have been in the hydrogen market for about a year.
A bit of hydrogen history
The hydrogen engine is not new to the Japanese company Toyota. In fact, the first steps towards the birth of the first production hydrogen car were made a long time ago, namely back in 1997. Then the world got acquainted with the prototype of such a car. However, before the appearance of the first small print run had to wait quite a long time.
In 2008, Japan announced the possibility of renting a hydrogen car. Plus, this car, which is called the FCHV, was provided to some government agencies and companies to act as testers. They could drive these cars, they were included in the fleet of companies, but the institutions faced the task of providing reports on the operation of hydrogen plants in certain periods after the completed stages of operation.
It was this information that helped Toyota in the development and improvement of the hydrogen power plant.
Price
Interestingly, despite the lack of data on the configuration and a number of other information, the Japanese have already managed to name prices for their unique new product.
To begin with, the hydrogen miracle will appear in Japan itself and will only be available there for about a year. By the fall of 2015, the first deliveries to the United States will begin. There you will have to pay for the car about 58 thousand dollars. And this is the starting price. What will be included in it, as well as how much the top version will cost and what options will be available for it, is still a mystery.
Specifications
The manufacturer did not begin to make veils of secrets regarding technical characteristics. It is known that the hybrid power plant produces power equal to 153 horsepower. And after all, this is despite the fact that the essence of the operation of the power unit lies in the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen, the "by-product" of which is water. That is, you will drive a Toyota Mirai, and instead of smoke, water will just slowly flow from the exhaust pipes. No pollution, no damage to nature.
Agree, all this looks somehow unusual, unusual and incomprehensible. But these cars are the future.
The cruising range with a full tank will be approximately 480 kilometers. This is enough not only for a long drive around the city for several weeks, but even to get to neighboring cities. Where and how to refuel such a car is another question. It is obvious that with the development of hydrogen cars, the corresponding networks of gas stations will also develop. But all this takes time.
It is noteworthy that for all its features, in terms of dynamics, Toyota Mirai is not inferior to modern sedans. Judge for yourself, to reach the mark of 100 kilometers per hour in terms of starting from a standstill, you need only 9 seconds.
Plus, the car has another very interesting feature. A special Power Take Off system will allow owners of such a Toyota, if necessary, to use the power unit as a power plant in order to provide their own home with electricity. This is true in many situations, ranging from repairs, ending with interruptions in the central power supply, power outages due to weather conditions, and so on. At the same time, Toyota Mirai is able to provide electricity to the house for a week. Much depends, of course, on the size of the house.
Conclusion
Toyota Mirai is the future. It is too early to talk about the imminent prospects for changing the vectors of development of the automotive industry. Nevertheless, the release of the model in the series, as well as its gradual distribution in the markets, suggests that everything will change after a while. Even hybrid cars may be a thing of the past if engineers can improve and upgrade hydrogen powertrains. Still, fuel reserves are limited, but oxygen and hydrogen are more than enough.
Toyota has taken a firm course in hydrogen technology. Takeshi Uchiyamada, CEO of the corporation, said that hydrogen and hydrogen fuel cells will be a game changer in social and economic terms, and hydrogen will become the fuel of the future. That is why Toyota called their creation Mirai, which means "future". Toyota believes the Mirai is the car that will open the door to the future for their company.
The Toyota Mirai is a four-door, mid-size, front-wheel-drive fuel cell sedan that can compete with ICE vehicles. It takes only 3-5 minutes to refuel it, and the travel range reaches 482 km. Mirai fuel cells can operate at temperatures up to 30 degrees below zero. The power plant accelerates the Mirai to 100 km/h in 9 seconds, acceleration from 40 to 65 km/h takes 3 seconds, and a top speed of 178 km/h.
The Mirai uses Toyota's proprietary Fuel Cell System (TFCS), which uses fuel cell technology and hybrid technology. It also includes Toyota's own developments: a fuel cell stack (FC Stack), a boost converter (FC boost converter) and high-pressure hydrogen cylinders. TFCS is much more energy efficient than internal combustion engines and does not emit CO2 and carcinogens during operation.
Toyota F.C. Stack
The maximum output of the new fuel cell stack reaches 114 kW (153 hp). The efficiency of electricity generation is increased through the use of the thinnest 3D channels. The channels are arranged in a thin three-dimensional lattice structure and increase the dispersion of air (oxygen), which allows to achieve uniform power generation on the surface of the cells. This, in turn, ensures a compact size and a high level of performance – the output power density reaches 3.1 kW/l or 2 kW/kg.
This is one of the highest rates in the world. Each block consists of 370 cells with a thickness of 1.34 mm and weighs 102 grams. Unlike previous devices developed by Toyota, the new FC Stack does not require the use of a humidifier. A significant reduction in the cost of fuel cells was also achieved by reducing the use of precious metals (the amount of platinum in the catalyst was reduced by two-thirds, and gold surface treatment was eliminated). The fuel cell battery is located under the front seats.
FC Boost Converter
A new compact (13 liter), high capacity, high capacity converter has been developed to increase the energy generated by the fuel cell stack to 650V. The increase in voltage has reduced the size of the electric motor and the number of fuel cell stacks, resulting in a reduction in the overall cost of the system. The converter is located directly in front of the fuel cell stack.
High pressure hydrogen cylinders
The two cylinders, which have a three-layer structure, are made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic and other materials. Hydrogen is stored in them under a pressure of 70 MPa (about 700 bar). The three-layer structure includes:
- Inner layer: plastic liner (prevents hydrogen leakage).
- Middle layer: carbon fiber reinforced plastic (structural base).
- Outer layer: glass fiber reinforced plastic (protects the outer surface from abrasion).
The front tank holds 60 liters, the rear - 62.4 liters. The total mass of stored hydrogen is about 5 kg. Compared to the cylinders used in the Toyota FCHV-adv, the volume has increased by almost 20% while reducing weight and size. The storage density of hydrogen reaches 5.7% (the highest in the world).
Electric motor and battery
The power plant also includes an electric motor, a power control unit and a nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery. The electric motor develops 113 kW (152 hp) and 335 Nm of torque.
Safety
Toyota began developing fuel cells in the early 1990s and has produced a number of hydrogen-powered vehicles that have traveled over 1.6 million km. Hydrogen cylinders made of carbon fiber have been repeatedly tested in crash tests. All the accumulated experience is reflected in the safety and reliability of Mirai. At the Toyota Safety Center, the car was subjected to extensive crash tests, including frontal, side and rear impacts. The structure of the body is designed in such a way that the impact energy is distributed and absorbed by several of its elements.
Particular attention was paid to protecting the hydrogen cylinders and the fuel cell stack from body deformations. The cylinders are equipped with hydrogen sensors that give an alarm and close the shut-off valves in the event of a leak. All elements containing and supplying hydrogen are located outside the passenger compartment, which ensures, in the event of a leak, its rapid dissipation in the environment.
The frame of the fuel cell stack is made from a newly developed thermoplastic carbon fiber reinforced plastic. It is lightweight, durable and easy to mass-produce material. It protects the FC Stack by absorbing bumps in the road surface.
External power system
Toyota Mirai is equipped with its own power system, which generates about 60 kW / h and a maximum power of up to 9 kW. It is designed to supply household consumers during interruptions in the supply of electricity in a stationary electrical network. The power supply converts direct current to alternating current and is connected to the home power supply via the CHAdeMO connector in the trunk. In addition, household appliances can be directly connected to the socket available in the vehicle (DC 100 V, power up to 1.5 kW).
Marketing
For Mirai owners, Toyota offers a wide range of services and warranties, including:
- 24/7 concierge service, where all fuel cell phone calls are answered by a dedicated company representative;
- 24/7 roadside assistance including towing, battery troubleshooting, tire replacement and repair, lost time reimbursement, replacement vehicle allocation;
- three years of branded service with all operations recommended by the factory for an annual mileage of up to 12,000 miles (19,200 km);
- 8 years/100,000 miles (160,000 km) warranties on fuel cell stack components;
- three years of free support with Safety Connect, which includes, among other things, an application with maps of hydrogen filling stations;
- three years of free hydrogen refueling.
Ecology of consumption. Motor: Toyota announced the start of sales in the domestic market of Japan of the first mass-produced hydrogen fuel cell car - the Mirai model. Now the innovative sedan enters the international market
In Japan, sales of the world's first mass-produced c car, the Mirai ("Future") sedan manufactured by Toyota Motor Corp., are in full swing.
Due to the high interest in the new model in Japan, the number of pre-orders has already exceeded the sales target in the country. Until the end of last year, the Japanese automaker planned to produce 700 fuel cell vehicles, in which electricity for the engine is generated by combining hydrogen from a tank with atmospheric oxygen. 400 of them should go to the domestic market, 200 - to the US and 100 - to the countries of Western Europe. In this regard, it announced that by the end of 2016 it will invest ¥20 billion (about $162 million) in the development of the production of cars with hydrogen engines, having tripled the production of Mirai sedans (up to 2.1 thousand per year).
Part of the investment will be directed to expanding the export of such machines to Western Europe and the United States. They, according to Toyota, should become the main external market for hydrogen vehicles. In total, by the end of 2017, the automaker intends to supply more than 3,000 Mirai sedans to the United States.
A significant increase in the production of hydrogen cars (up to 50 thousand per year) will be achieved in 2020, when the Summer Olympic Games will be held in Tokyo. They, according to local authorities, should be a big step towards expanding the use of hydrogen not only in the automotive industry, but also in the energy sector. And in 2030, every tenth car sold in Japan will be fuel cell, which, according to the forecast of the consulting company Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting Co., will bring an additional ¥4.4 trillion in profit to the Japanese economy (about $36.9 billion).
The cost of the new Mirai sedan in Japan is ¥7.23 million ($60.7 thousand), while the government provides subsidies of $17 thousand to each buyer of such cars in the country. In addition, owners are offered 24/7 free roadside assistance, as well as an eight-year warranty on the electric motor and fuel cells. The only product of the Mirai engine is water, no harmful substances are emitted into the atmosphere. A tank of hydrogen fuel is enough for about 650 km of travel, and it takes about three minutes to fully refuel it.
Another major Japanese automaker, Honda Motor Co. next year it also plans to start selling a hydrogen-powered car similar to the Mirai in terms of performance. Nissan Motor Co. will present its fuel cell model in three years.
The car is endowed with a TFCS (Toyota Fuel Cell System) power plant with a maximum output of 114 kW, which combines the advantages of hydrogen fuel cells and a hybrid drive. The machine does not produce harmful emissions into the atmosphere, since the only product of the TFCS is water.
Toyota emphasizes that Mirai offers the highest level of safety. Thus, hydrogen storage tanks are manufactured exclusively at Toyota with maximum quality control. The special structure of the tank made of several layers of polymer materials and carbon fiber provides strength and efficient energy absorption in case of deformation.
The Pre-collision System (PCS) is responsible for automatic braking in the event of a high risk of an accident. If the on-board electronics register the fact of an accident, the supply of hydrogen from the tank will instantly stop. One or more of the eight airbags will be deployed as needed.
The innovative sedan has a unique design and good handling achieved through a record low center of gravity.
On the occasion of the commercial launch of the Mirai, Toyota President Akio Toyoda said, “We envisioned a future in which humanity would have green cars that would not rely entirely on oil reserves. These were bold, inspired dreams. Today they have become a reality. We are ready to produce the cars we dreamed about. And we named the first one Mirai. I saw the future. It's very close." published
P.S. And remember, just by changing your consumption, we are changing the world together! © econet
Sales of the Toyota Mirai ("future" in Jap.), the world's first mass-produced hydrogen-powered car. The price of the novelty is 7,236,000 yen (approximately $61,100), while the Japanese government subsidizes the purchase by 2.02 million yen (a little over $17,000). According to the company's plans, sales were supposed to begin in the spring of 2015, however, as the number of pre-orders exceeded expectations, it was decided to postpone the date to an early date.
Mirai is a four-door sedan powered by an electric motor with a capacity of 151 hp. s., which receives energy from a converter, the initial substance of which is hydrogen, stored in two carbon fiber tanks under a pressure of 70 MPa. The oxygen required for the chemical reaction comes directly from the car's radiator while it is in motion. One refueling is enough for a run of 480 km, and the filling itself with 5 kilograms (170 liters) of hydrogen lasts about 3 minutes. The top speed of the Mirai is 111 mph (about 180 km/h), while it takes 9 seconds to accelerate to 100 km/h.
Under the hood of the Mirai
In Europe, the car will be officially presented at the Geneva Motor Show, and in America, sales will begin at the end of next year at a price of $ 57,500 (which is comparable to the brainchild of Elon Musk - Tesla electric cars) only in California and only in the amount of 200 copies - at the moment hydrogen refueling there are no stations in the United States, and Toyota, together with Air Liquide, plans to build 12 of them by the start of sales - the price of one station is $7.2 million. As expected, the final price for a car, taking into account all discounts and government subsidies, may be $45,000.
Inside Mirai
In addition to its direct purpose, the car's power plant can also serve as a kind of home power plant for the home: engineers claim that with the help of the Power take off System they developed, the average Japanese house can be powered by generated electricity for 5 days. It is interesting to note that the idea of this non-standard use of the car arose because of the significant risks of disasters in Japan, when the tsunami leaves entire cities without electricity.
Regardless of whether Elon Musk has any reason to worry, TASS, referring to former Saudi Arabian minister Ahmed Zaki Yamani, notes that "the age of oil is coming to an end":
As a result of the proliferation of alternative sources, the demand for oil will decline. In the field of electricity generation, it is already being replaced by nuclear and wind turbines. Oil is still needed for transport, but demand there is falling due to the growing spread of hybrid and electric vehicles. The oil era will finally end if it is possible to practically introduce hydrogen fuel and produce it cheaply.”
says the expert.
