The Toyota Mirai Will Be Evaluated For An FCEV Study Via A Pilot Project

• The Mirai utilises a 174PS all-electric motor, powered by 330 fuel cells and hydrogen.

• It is capable of going up to a claimed 650km on a single hydrogen fill.

• The Mirai holds the world record for longest distance covered on a single fill of hydrogen (1003 km).

With the push for cleaner alternative fuel sources being the current trend in the automotive industry, multiple options aside from electric vehicles are being considered, including hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. Now it looks like it won’t be long before we have FCEVs in India, as Nitin Gadkari, the current Minister of Road Transport & Highways, has inaugurated a pilot project studying hydrogen FCEVs. 

In collaboration with the International Center for Automotive Technology (ICAT), this project will have the Toyota Mirai FCEV take on Indian roads and climatic conditions for evaluation. Of course, it’s also to demonstrate hydrogen technology and create awareness in the country as an alternative to EVs and potentially kick off the FCEV era.

A spokesperson for Toyota Kirloskar Motors commented on the announcement saying, “We are very excited and grateful that the Hon'ble Minister of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has kindly consented to propagate the FCEV Mirai during this pilot study which is taking place at Delhi. We strongly believe that this will provide great encouragement and tremendous boost to all the stakeholders who are beginning to work towards hydrogen-based society in support of our national goals and are confident that India can lead in this direction in future. We applaud the Indian government’s relentless efforts towards promoting carbon neutral and electrified technologies and remain fully committed to supporting the national objectives.”

The Toyota Mirai couldn’t have been a more perfect test car to do it, as it is powered by an all-electric motor, (that derives its power from 330 fuel cells) generating 174PS. Three hydrogen tanks are present, weighing a combined 24kg. While it is claimed to go up to 650km on a single hydrogen fill, it has managed to run up to 1003km on a test run. This is equivalent to a road trip from Mumbai To Bengaluru – a world record.

While there are still some ways to go for fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) to really come into their own in markets abroad (let alone India), this could turn out to be a viable alternative to battery electric vehicles. 

We’re yet to know when the Toyota Mirai will make it to India, but if things go well with this pilot project, chances are we might get it soon enough. This isn’t the only potential FCEV for India, as Hyundai registered the Nexo on the Regional Transport Office (RTO) website for testing purposes.