Toyota’s Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle has been rather curious. Elon Musk, Tesla Motors’ mogul, has referred to fuel cell technology as “bullshit”, even though the issues with pure electric vehicles (range anxiety, cost, energy origination, and everything to do with the creation and retirement of the battery packs used) is still present. But Toyota has one issue to contend with if the Mirai, or any other fuel cell vehicle it produces, is to have any semblance of success: it must get out from under the “eco-minded” reputation that the current eco-Toyota, the Prius, has. So, why not throw it into motorsport? Toyota has done well in motorsports, and with their GAZOO Racing arm spooling up, why not throw a Mirai down rally stages? They did just that, with a lightly prepared car at Rally Deutschland. By “lightly prepared”, we mean roll cage, upgraded seats, upgraded brakes and suitable tires. That’s it. It didn’t compete, but it was run as the “zero car”, the vehicle that makes an at-speed pass down a stage to verify that everything is clear for the racers.
Mirai Chief Engineer Yoshikazu Tanaka said: “It is our dream that one day our fuel cell vehicles will be able to compete in WRC. Therefore, we will continue to develop this technology with great ambition. Spectators at the Rallye Deutschland will have to get used to this noiseless premiere at Trier, but they’ll experience the art of an almost pollution-free future.” Compared to the Prius’s move as an ego-booster than a car, we will happily watch Toyota figure out how to make an FCV competitive in motorsport. It’s a step in the right direction compared to appealing to the Greenpeace sect.
(Courtesy: Carscoops)
Fair comment – but boy oh boy this monstrosity makes even the Nissan Puke look like the most beautiful car in the world…..
Yeah Gordie you are right! WTF! Why when one of these alternate fuel things comes out cant it be good looking?! It always has to look like a shoe or a lawnmower. Want people to buy it? Then make it look like a Supra or a first gen Celica.
I actually like both the concept and the look of this car.
I’m sure that there are hydrogen-powered cars that will do the job better or look better, but this thing at least stands out and doesn’t fill the “gray lint filter” niche of every other car on the road.
Interesting side note, one of the former CEOs of GM went on record to say that hydrogen fuel-cells are impractical and useless, and about a month later Germany rolled out a hydrogen-powered electric submarine.
Moose, I don’t think your argument lines up.
Turbines make crappy automobile engines but they work like a charm on a jetliner, right?
Less of an argument, more of an historical citation.
If anything, my argument is that CEOs should talk about cash, stocks, and bailouts and let the engineers handle the tech.
At least don’t make it look like the alien from the movie Predator!