A new hydrogen-powered car has been invented in California that skips both gasoline and electricity. The Toyota Mirai is described as a revolutionary hydrogen fuel cell car that uses futuristic technology for the cleanest burning car yet.
Instead of traditional fuel or even electricity, the car runs on something even cleaner, hydrogen fuel. It runs through the cell to generate electricity to power the wheels and produces nothing but water vapour.
One Big Question
Many people are now asking if the water vapour produced by the car can be consumed in an emergency.
One influencer who got their hands on the car wanted to find the answer to this question when they were handed a new Toyota Mirai to drive for a few days.
How Does the Car Work?
To fill up the car, you must take it to one of the rare hydrogen filling stations in California. After that, the fuel cell in the car tears the protons and electrons in a hydrogen atom apart.
The electron then pass through an external circuit to power the car and the proton from the hydrogen atom combines with oxygen in the air and finally creates water.
Car Vapour Exhaust
Unlike a typical gasoline powered car, the Mirai does not produce any exhaust fumes. Instead, the newly created water is collected in a separate tank that needs to be drained out of the car through an outlet.
The water is allegedly totally pure other than any particles it picked up in the tank that holds it or the pipes it moves through.
Can the Water Be Consumed?
A popular Instagram page that reviews new cars and accessories took the Mirai out for a test drive, and a test drink.
The Fast Lane Car wanted to answer the burning question if the water can be safely consumed as well as what it tastes like.
The Taste Test
In the video the team goes gives an overview of how the fuel cell worked in the car to produce the pure H20 before pouring the water vapour into a glass.
After they drink the water they note that it really doesn’t taste like anything and that it really doesn’t produce nearly enough water to help in an emergency.
Toyota Says: Don’t Do It
Thankfully Toyota has a clear message on the water that the car emits as waste: don’t drink it.
Although the water is technically pure H20 it is missing the minerals and nutrients available in tap and spring water. As well, the water does not travel through food safe pipes, so foreign materials could be present.
Popularity of the Car
So far the car is only available for sale in California within the United States. But global sales have surpassed 21,475 units already.
In the nine years that the car has been available for purchase it’s made a small splash, but hasn’t picked up commercial success just yet.
Hydrogen Filling Stations
One of the major road blocks stopping consumers from buying the car is the lack of hydrogen fuelling stations in the country.
Currently, there are less than 55 hydrogen fuelling stations across the state of California where most sales have occurred.
How Much Does It Cost To Fill?
The going rate for hydrogen is about $36 per kilogram. The Mirai holds around 5.6 kilos of hydrogen in the 142.2-liter tank.
The car costs around $200 to fill and lasts about 500km, making it a relatively expensive car to fuel.
Other Models Available
The only other model available on the market for a hydrogen powered car is the Hyundai Nexo, a compact SUV available in Asia and North America.
However, these cars aren’t exactly cheap. The starting price of the Hyundai fuel cell SUV is in the mid $70,000.
Is Hydrogen Even Clean Energy?
Currently, the hydrogen sold at filling stations in the United States is a byproduct of the natural gas industry.
Although the chemical can be made in several different ways, about 95% of hydrogen sold at filling stations in California is produced by steam reforming of natural gas.
