Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric vehicles aren’t charged in the same way as a Battery Electric car. Instead, they’re refuelled with hydrogen gas pumped in the same safe and familiar way as a conventional petrol or diesel model. Filling up takes the same amount of time, too – as little as 3-5 minutes for a full tank.
Why Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric?
Refuels in five minutes
Quick and easy to refuel, Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric technology produces electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen in a fuel cell stack. Refuelling the hydrogen tank from a pump takes less than five minutes, so you can get back on the road and enjoy a smooth journey.
Impressive driving range
Toyota Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric vehicles are full of innovations designed to maximise your driving experience. Capable of travelling hundreds of kilometers on a tank of hydrogen, the Toyota Mirai can travel up to 650km§ between refuelling stops.
How do hydrogen cars work?
Hydrogen power is an exciting technology. In the last decade hydrogen has become a credible and mainstream means of powering vehicles that can help reduce our impact on the planet for generations to come. The below animations show how Fuel Cell Electric technology works.
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Refuelling is easy. Just as easy and convenient as fuelling a conventional petrol or diesel car, simply fill the tank with hydrogen at a dedicated hydrogen refuelling station.
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Upon activation, hydrogen stored in the fuel tank is mixed with air from the intake grille. This chemical reaction creates electricity, providing energy to charge the battery and drive the car.
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When the brakes are activated, energy that would typically be wasted is instead diverted to top up the battery with power.
FAQS
- Hydrogen Fuel Cell
Battery Electric vehicles are powered by a battery and one or more electric motors, and must be charged when the state of charge runs low. Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric vehicles produce their own electricity through a chemical reaction in an onboard fuel cell stack, and are refuelled with hydrogen at a filling station when required. Hydrogen vehicles offer impressive performance and convenient long-distance mobility since refuelling is often faster than charging.
The Mirai can be driven up to 650km.§ on a full tank, using only 0.79kg of hydrogen per 100 km.§ It’s an enticing glimpse into Toyota’s vision for clean mobility and a future hydrogen society.
With similar fuel and insurance charges, the running costs of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric cars are comparable to those of conventional petrol or diesel cars. However they often qualify for a range of government incentives, from company car and road tax discounts to exemptions from congestion zones.
When it comes to longevity, each fuel cell stack is engineered to last the lifetime of the car. And with the peace of mind of a 100,000km warranty, Toyota’s take-back scheme ensures that when the fuel cell stack nears the end of its life, it can be reused for other purposes or dealt with safely and responsibly.
Hydrogen is safer to handle than petrol or diesel. Toyota has spent many years testing its hydrogen-powered cars in extreme conditions and temperatures to ensure they can be used as safely and reliably as any other model. Toyota’s multi-layer hydrogen tanks are extremely well protected. The result is true peace of mind for drivers.
* Emissions may be associated with other aspects of the car’s life cycle (including its manufacture), from the production of hydrogen fuel and from day-to-day usage, such as from the tyres and brakes.
§ WLTP cycle. Range subject to selected grades, powertrains and local driving conditions.
◊ An electrified car is one propelled by one or more electric motors to some extent. Some electrified cars, including Hybrids and Plug-in Hybrids, also have a petrol engine. Others, like the Toyota bZ4X, are entirely electric.
** Availability of the products may vary by country, and local offers may be different in each market. Customers are advised to check with their local Toyota Centre.
