Toyota is quite optimistic about the response to its car of the future: the hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle (FCV) Mirai.
The latest FCV Mirai is not only environment-friendly (emitting water vapor instead of carbon dioxide), but its hydrogen tank is capable of traveling 300 miles on a single tank.
The automaker revealed on Nov. 18 that the Toyota Mirai would cost $57,600 in the U.S. (before taxes). However, if the state and federal incentives that amount to nearly $13,000 are combined, then the price of the sedan will be under $45,000. Owners will also benefit from roadside assistance and concierge at all times, free fuel for three years and a 100,000 mile or 8-year warranty on fuel cell parts.
Consumers also have the option of leasing the Mirai for $499 per month for three years. However, they will be required to pay $3,649 upfront at the time of signing.
In the launch year itself, Toyota is hoping to sell nearly 400 cars in Japan and 300 in the rest of the world respectively.
"In time, the fuel cell vehicle will become mainstream. We wanted to take the first step," revealed Toyota's EVP Mitsuhisa Kato. "We want to be at the leading edge."
Kato also said that hydrogen had the capability to change "our society's structure" and could potentially encourage industrial development.
However, Toyota Mirai's success is largely hinged on the development of hydrogen refueling stations, as well as the vehicle's cost effectiveness.
Yoshikazu Tanaka, Toyota's deputy chief engineer of next-gen vehicle development, anticipated that it could be a decade or two before the Mirai's sales touch figures of tens of thousands per year.
Toyota views the scenario as a challenge and likens the situation to the launch of its Prius in 1997, which is now a success.
"It was a big challenge when we first introduced the Prius, or hybrid car, in 1997," said Mirai. "And it's an even bigger challenge this time because there is no infrastructure, and we're trying to lead the commercialization of fuel cell cars."
In Japan, the Mirai releases on Dec. 15. Toyota already has 200 pre-orders for the FCV.
In due course, Toyota is hoping to create a "hydrogen society" and anticipates that while hydrogen is more expensive than gasoline, in the long term, it will be economical to run a hydrogen-powered vehicle as opposed to a gasoline one.
