Say Hi to hydrogen

The days when it was a simple selection in between a petrol or diesel car could quickly be a point of the previous.

Now, you can not only select a automobile which runs on electricity, but you can also opt for one particular that is powered by hydrogen.

Just don’t ask if they go like a bomb…

Future shock

Toyota, the world’s biggest auto-manufacturer, has announced it will commence selling its 4-door Mirai (the Japanese word for “future”), which powered by hydrogen gas, in Japan by mid-December this year. The vehicle will be sold in the US and Europe by the summer of 2015.

This is not the initial time Toyota has been involved in ‘next generation’ automobiles. It’s behind the electric hybrid Prius, arguably the ideal-recognized ‘green’ car on the road.

But it is not the first off the starting block when it comes to introducing hydrogen-fuelled vehicles in the UK. Hyundai began delivering its ix35 Fuel Cell model to owners final month (October).

Tough cell

The Mirai is fitted with a ‘fuel cell’, which generates electrical energy by way of the chemical reaction among hydrogen and oxygen. This electricity then powers the auto.

A spokesman for Toyota stated “Hydrogen can be generated utilizing a wide range of organic resources and man-produced by-items such as sewage sludge. It can also be created from water employing all-natural renewable power sources like solar and wind energy.

“When compressed, it has a greater energy density than batteries, and is fairly straightforward to retailer and transport.”

Emission manage

The Mirai is entirely emission-totally free, with a by-solution of only heat and water, which will appeal to any person seeking to reduce their carbon footprint.

The compressed hydrogen gas utilised to power it is stored in 2 tanks which are positioned underneath the vehicle. One re-fill, which requires around 3 minutes (according to Toyota), will be sufficient to power the vehicle for about 3 hundred miles.

Aesthetically, the Mirai is undoubtedly a automobile of the future.

It wouldn’t appear out of location in the ‘Transformer’ film with its huge futuristic-seeking front grilles, but there’s no opportunity of it turning into a robot (for now at least).

The huge left and right grilles on the vehicle are not just about style even though – their objective is to drawn in air for the oxygen provide and to cool the fuel cell program.

Limited edition

But prior to you rush to location your order, it is going to be a although yet prior to these automobiles grow to be a mainstream alternative. In the very first year, Toyota only plans to sell 400 of them in Japan, and just 300 in the US and Europe.

Then there’s the expense to contemplate. The Toyota Mirai will be priced at a hefty 6.7m yen – that is about £36,650 – a steep value to spend, particularly if you’re just looking for a run-about hatchback.

Running expenses will not be insubstantial either, as hydrogen is more costly that petrol or diesel.

Air provide

Cost isn’t the only situation. You probably haven’t noticed any hydrogen pumps at your nearby filling station, possibly simply because they’re as uncommon as hen’s teeth.

Worldwide, there are currently only a few dozen hydrogen filling stations in existence, even though there are plans for much more to be built. Britain is amongst the nations with plans in this area, and a few stations have currently opened in the US.

Ne2rk news

Matthew Hancock, enterprise minister, has pledged £11m of UK government and industry funding to grow the hydrogen filling station ne2rk right here.

The aim is that this will outcome in up to 15 stations across the UK, so even once these are constructed you’re probably to face a long drive to fill-up, particularly if you contemplate that in comparison there are about 8,500 traditional filling stations nationwide.

According to engineers at Toyota, it’s probably to be at least 10 or 20 years prior to these vehicles begin promoting in any sizable numbers.

Say Hi to hydrogen