Toyota has taken the wraps off its hydrogen fuel cell-powered car -- "Mirai."
Touted as the next big thing, Mirai means "future" in Japanese. The sedan has a hydrogen tank that refills in less than five minutes and can travel 300 miles on a single tank. What's more, the eco-friendly vehicle only emits water vapor, poising it to become the car of the future.
Toyota's President Akio Toyoda shared the details on Sunday, Nov. 16, via a web video prior to the vehicle's official launch.
"Today, we are at a turning point in automotive history.A turning point where people will embrace a new, environmentally friendly car that is a pleasure to drive," revealed Akio Toyoda, Toyota's President.
Toyota tested the Mirai for several years in controlled programs and is now finally set to put it on the road. The vehicle will be equipped with an electric motor that is fueled by a hydrogen fuel stack.
The hydrogen fuel, Toyota says is easy to make and can be created from any "feed stock", which includes wind power, natural gas and "even garbage."
The commercial success of the Toyota Mirai in the U.S., however, depends on the availability of hydrogen fueling stations. Currently, Southern California has 11 functional hydrogen fueling stations, which are the maximum in the U.S. However, more than 50 hydrogen fuel stations are expected to be installed by 2016. Toyota and other auto companies are expected to provide financial support for the same.
Toyota has partnered with Air Liquide to build a network of nearly 12 hydrogen fuel stations in the East Coast. These will be built in Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Massachusetts and New Jersey. Toyota is scheduled to introduce the Toyota Mirai in these regions by 2016.
The Toyota Mirai is slated to go on sale in Japan by April and will retail for 7 million Yen (approximately $60,000). In Japan, the sedan will be eligible for a $20,000 rebate from the government. It is expected to release in California by 2015 and several other U.S. states by 2016.
The U.S. pricing of the Toyota Mirai is not known at this juncture, but it is anticipated to be priced around $50,000.
