Hydrogen fuel has long been heralded as a promising alternative to traditional gasoline, offering emission-free driving and longer ranges. However, recent reports suggest that Toyota’s Mirai owners are facing unexpected challenges when it comes to the advertised driving range and the rising costs of hydrogen fuel.
While Toyota advertises that the current Mirai models can achieve up to 400 miles with a full tank of hydrogen, many owners have found themselves falling short of this promise. In fact, a number of Mirai owners have reported achieving less than the advertised 300-mile range. This discrepancy has left owners frustrated and questioning the true potential of their hydrogen-powered vehicles.
Furthermore, the cost of driving a Mirai is proving to be quite steep. At the advertised range, Mirai owners would be paying approximately 50 cents per mile to operate their vehicles. On the lower end of the range claims from owners, the cost can soar to over 80 cents per mile. These figures are staggering, especially when compared to the costs of conventional gasoline-powered vehicles.
According to True Zero, a leading hydrogen retailer in California, the soaring costs of hydrogen fuel can be attributed to supply chain restrictions and low carbon credit values. The company acknowledges the concern and is committed to exploring ways to bring the prices back down. However, current factors in the market make it challenging to offer significant relief to Mirai owners.
To mitigate some of the financial burden, Toyota provides Mirai buyers with a fuel card worth $15,000, which covers hydrogen purchases for approximately six years. Unfortunately, with the current cost of $36 per kilogram, this amount may not suffice for owners with longer commutes. For some individuals in the Los Angeles area, the expenses associated with owning a used Mirai could be exorbitant, requiring substantial out-of-pocket spending.
The challenges faced by Toyota’s Mirai owners highlight the complexities and uncertainties surrounding hydrogen fuel as a viable alternative to gasoline. As the industry continues to develop and adapt, it is crucial for automakers and fuel providers to address these issues and work towards affordable and accessible solutions for consumers. Only then can the promise of hydrogen-powered vehicles become a reality for a wider audience.
Hydrogen fuel is a type of fuel that has been seen as a promising alternative to traditional gasoline. It offers emission-free driving and longer ranges.
The Toyota Mirai is a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle produced by Toyota. It is one of the leading vehicles in this technology.
The advertised driving range of the Toyota Mirai is up to 400 miles with a full tank of hydrogen. However, many owners have found that their actual range falls short of this promise, with some achieving less than the advertised 300-mile range.
The cost of driving a Mirai is proving to be quite steep. At the advertised range, owners would be paying approximately 50 cents per mile to operate their vehicles. On the lower end of the range claims from owners, the cost can soar to over 80 cents per mile. This is significantly higher than the costs of conventional gasoline-powered vehicles.
The rising costs of hydrogen fuel can be attributed to supply chain restrictions and low carbon credit values. True Zero, a leading hydrogen retailer in California, acknowledges these concerns and is exploring ways to bring prices back down. However, current market factors make it challenging to offer significant relief to Mirai owners.
To help mitigate the financial burden, Toyota provides Mirai buyers with a fuel card worth $15,000, which covers hydrogen purchases for approximately six years. However, with the current high cost of hydrogen at $36 per kilogram, this amount may not be sufficient for owners with longer commutes. This could result in substantial out-of-pocket spending.
The challenges faced by Toyota’s Mirai owners highlight the complexities and uncertainties surrounding hydrogen fuel as a viable alternative to gasoline. Automakers and fuel providers need to address these issues and work towards affordable and accessible solutions for consumers, in order to make the promise of hydrogen-powered vehicles a reality for a wider audience.
For further information on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, you can visit the Toyota website: Toyota Fuel Cell.
The source of the article is from the blog publicsectortravel.org.uk