Sylvie Willis
Toyota has been actively working towards creating a hydrogen society and achieving carbon neutrality with its products and services. In pursuit of this goal, the company has developed the Fuel Cell EV Mirai, a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) that produces no emissions except water. The Mirai is part of Toyota's Fuel Cell EV Family, which offers a range of electrified powertrains, including Hybrid EV, Plug-in Hybrid EV, Battery EV, and Fuel Cell EV options. Toyota's hydrogen fuel cell technology has also been applied in other areas, such as buses, railroads, and stationary power generators, and the company continues to collaborate with partners across various industries to promote the use of hydrogen and improve its fuel cell systems.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for making fuel cell cars | To achieve carbon neutrality and create a hydrogen society |
| Fuel cell system | Proton exchange membrane fuel cell |
| How it works | Transforms chemical energy to electrical energy through a reaction of hydrogen and oxygen |
| Emissions | Produces no emissions except water |
| Water usage | Water generated during power generation is circulated back into the fuel cell stack to humidify it |
| Fuel cell module | Available in box and flat rectangular shapes |
| Fuel cell applications | Cars, buses, trains, ships, and stationary power generators |
| Fuel cell markets | Japan, Europe, North America, and China |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Toyota's vision for carbon neutrality
Toyota has a vision to reach carbon neutrality with its products, services, and operations, and to go beyond that by finding new ways to positively impact the planet and society. This vision is called "Beyond Zero".
Toyota's commitment to reducing its environmental footprint and creating a positive impact on society is evident through its initiatives such as decreasing single-use plastic waste, supporting water conservation efforts, and expanding programs that protect biodiversity.
To achieve carbon neutrality, Toyota is focusing on the development of hydrogen fuel cell technology. Hydrogen is viewed as an important fuel in the pursuit of carbon neutrality, and Toyota has been actively collaborating with partners across various industries to promote its use. The company has identified the areas of "Create, Transport, Store, and Use" as key to its research and development activities.
Toyota's third-generation fuel cell system (3rd Gen FC System) is a significant step towards achieving a hydrogen society. This new system offers improved durability, fuel efficiency, and a significant reduction in costs compared to its previous versions. It can be used in a variety of applications, including passenger vehicles, heavy-duty commercial vehicles, stationary power generators, buses, railroads, and ships.
Toyota's Mirai fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) is a prime example of its commitment to carbon neutrality. The Mirai is powered by a chemical reaction involving oxygen and hydrogen, which produces electricity and emits only water. With the Mirai, Toyota is providing customers with a choice of electrified powertrains, including Hybrid EV, Plug-in Hybrid EV, Battery EV, and Fuel Cell EV, to suit different lifestyles and needs.
Leased Cars: Fuel Included or Extra Expense?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Hydrogen as a fuel
Toyota has been working towards the realization of a hydrogen society by developing hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles. Hydrogen fuel cell technology has been described as an important step towards carbon neutrality. The Toyota Mirai, for example, is a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) that uses a proton exchange membrane fuel cell to transform the chemical energy liberated during the electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy. This process produces no emissions except water, and the water produced is diverted back to the membrane to humidify it, eliminating the need for a separate humidifier.
The Mirai has been employed as taxis in The Netherlands, with the city of Den Haag opting for emission-free transport with a fleet of 35 Toyota Mirais. Additionally, a fleet of Toyota Mirai zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell cars was delivered to the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne, Switzerland. Toyota has also been supplying FC systems for use in other applications, such as buses, railroads, and stationary power generators since 2019.
Toyota's third-generation fuel cell system (3rd Gen FC System) was unveiled at the H2 & FC EXPO (International Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Expo) in Tokyo, Japan, in 2025. This new system was designed to meet the needs of the commercial sector, with improvements in durability, fuel efficiency, and cost reduction compared to the previous version. The 3rd Gen FC System can be installed in a variety of commercial vehicles, passenger cars, and general-purpose applications such as stationary generators, rail, and ships.
Toyota's hydrogen fuel cell technology has also been applied to other projects, such as the H2 fuel cell electric Hilux prototype, the Lunar Cruiser, which is contributing to NASA's Artemis Programme, and the GR Corolla, which is leading the way in zero-carbon racing. Toyota is committed to reducing its environmental footprint and creating a positive impact on society through initiatives like "Beyond Zero" and "Achieving Zero".
Maximizing Fuel Efficiency: Tips to Optimize Your Car's Performance
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The technology behind the fuel cell
Toyota's vision is to reach carbon neutrality and go beyond with its products, services, and operations. The company has been working on hydrogen fuel cell technology for over 20 years and has actively collaborated with partners across various industries. In 2015, Toyota announced that it would offer its hydrogen fuel cell vehicle patents to competitors free of charge to stimulate the market for hydrogen-powered vehicles.
A hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (HFCV) uses an electric motor to turn the wheels, similar to a battery-electric car. However, instead of a large, heavy battery, it is powered by a fuel-cell stack where pure hydrogen (H2) combines with oxygen (O2) from the air to produce electricity and water vapor. This process occurs in a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell, the most common type of fuel cell for vehicle applications. In a PEM fuel cell, an electrolyte membrane is sandwiched between a positive electrode (cathode) and a negative electrode (anode). Hydrogen is introduced to the anode, and oxygen to the cathode, where an electrochemical reaction occurs, aided by a catalyst, producing electricity to power the motor.
Fuel cell vehicles are classified as zero-emissions vehicles, emitting only water vapor. They can be refuelled in a similar manner to conventional vehicles, taking around 5 minutes to refuel and offering a driving range of over 300 miles. However, as of 2020, there were only 43 publicly accessible hydrogen refueling stations in the US, with 41 of these in California. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are also more expensive, with hydrogen fuel costs fluctuating.
Toyota's latest 3rd Gen FC System offers improved durability, fuel efficiency, and reduced costs compared to previous versions. It is designed to meet the needs of the commercial sector, with durability comparable to diesel engines, and can be installed in a variety of vehicles, including passenger cars, heavy-duty commercial vehicles, and general-purpose applications such as stationary generators, rail, and ships.
Indy Car Fuel: What's in the Tank?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Safety of the hydrogen fuel tanks
Safety is a key consideration for Toyota's hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, such as the Mirai, which has been extensively tested to ensure the safety of its hydrogen fuel tanks. The Mirai is the first hydrogen fuel cell vehicle to be mass-produced and sold commercially.
Toyota has conducted rigorous safety tests on the hydrogen fuel tanks of the Mirai, including crash tests, road tests, and evaluations in extreme temperatures. The hydrogen fuel tanks have even been shot at with high-velocity weapons, demonstrating their durability and safety. These tests have proven that the Mirai's hydrogen fuel tanks meet Global Technical Regulation No. 13.
The Mirai's hydrogen fuel tanks are designed with multiple safety features to prevent leaks and ensure the safe containment of hydrogen. The tanks are made of carbon-fiber-reinforced materials, lined with plastic, and surrounded by a glass fibre layer. This glass fibre layer does not contribute to the rigidity of the tank but provides confidence in its integrity. In the event of a collision or leak, highly sensitive hydrogen sensors detect the escape of hydrogen, triggering the automatic closure of the hydrogen tank valves to prevent further leakage.
The refuelling process of the Mirai has also been carefully designed with safety in mind. The nozzle at the end of the hydrogen dispenser's flexible hose has a mechanical lock to ensure a secure connection with the car's filling inlet before refuelling can begin. Additionally, a pressure impulse check is performed to detect any leakage in the system between the filling station and the car, and the rate of filling is regulated to avoid overheating during the transfer of hydrogen.
Toyota's commitment to safety is evident in the extensive testing and safety features implemented in the Mirai's hydrogen fuel tanks. The company prioritises the safety of its customers and the environment in its pursuit of carbon neutrality and the realisation of a hydrogen society.
Fuel Injector Failure: Can It Stop Your Car?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Hydrogen's fluctuating costs
Hydrogen fuel costs are subject to fluctuation, influenced by various market factors, including energy costs and production methods. The cost of electricity for hydrogen producers is a key factor in estimating green hydrogen production costs. As green hydrogen is produced using electricity generated from renewable sources, the future cost of renewables is essential in building a well-founded estimate. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL) annual technology baseline (ATB) provides data on current renewable installation costs and estimates of future costs under different scenarios.
In Europe, the cost of hydrogen for FCEV heavy transportation trucks was approximately €7-€8 per kilogram in early 2023. These costs are based on wholesale power market electrolysis costs, which can be influenced by weather conditions and the supply of renewable energy. There is a target to reduce hydrogen fuel prices to about €4 per kilogram by 2030, which would make it cost-competitive with diesel for long-haul trucks.
In Spain, the price of hydrogen fuel for FCEV trucks was around €7-€8 per kilogram in early 2023, while in Germany, it was in the same range. These prices reflect the wholesale power market costs and can fluctuate based on energy market conditions and renewable power generation outputs.
The cost of hydrogen production in Europe in 2022 and 2023 can be analysed through the European Hydrogen Observatory's datastream, which provides data on the levelized cost of hydrogen production by technology and country. Sources used for these calculations include wholesale electricity costs from the European Network of Transmission System Operators and the Joint Research Centre's ENSPRESO model for solar and wind capacity factors in EU Member States.
While the cost of hydrogen fuel is currently a barrier to its widespread adoption, prices are expected to decrease with technological advancements and increased scale. Toyota's development of its third-generation fuel cell system has resulted in a significant reduction in costs compared to the previous version, bringing them closer to achieving a hydrogen-based carbon-neutral society.
Draining Fuel from a Smart Car: Step-by-Step Guide
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Toyota made the fuel cell car to reduce carbon emissions and achieve carbon neutrality.
The fuel cell car uses a proton exchange membrane fuel cell to transform the chemical energy from the electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy. This process produces no emissions other than water.
The Toyota Mirai is the company's fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV).
The Mirai has been sold in more than 30 countries and territories, including Japan, Europe, North America, China, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
The Mirai offers greater cruising range than other electric vehicles due to its improved fuel efficiency. It also has low maintenance requirements, which reduce the total cost of ownership.
