US consumers can now buy or lease the Mirai, Toyota's first fuel cell car that runs by combining hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity. Since it runs on water, its only output is also water, which is clean enough to drink.
The new car uses Toyota's hybrid system, just like its Prius, but the only difference between the two cars is that Mirai runs on hydrogen fuel cell. The car outputs clear drinking water, which is pleasant, refreshing, and has no nasty taste, according to a Forbes contributor. People who want to get their hands on this amazing technology must prepare $58,325. Yes it is expensive, but Toyota said it is not expecting people to buy one. Instead the company expects the cars to be bought in fleets. In London, where it sells for £66,000, capital transport authority TFL will use these cars to lower emissions.
According to Clean Technica, Toyota collaborated with custom car shop MV Designs and Mark Wu to design the custom Mirai, which looks like the De Lorean in the "Back to the Future" franchise. The custom Mirai has the gull-wing doors, just like the De Lorean. It has a metallic silver paint and it has a time travel display to complete the futuristic feel of the vehicle.
Fortune reviewed the experience riding the vehicle, saying there is nothing alien about driving the vehicle. Its driving system is familiar, especially to those who have tried the Prius. Its dashboard shows the flow of oxygen that combined with hydrogen to produce water and electricity. The seats are comfortable.
Refueling the car is also quite familiar, especially if there is a hydrogen station in the locality. It is refueled with hydrogen, the same way a regular car is typically filled with gasoline. Toyota plans to add hydrogen pumps to traditional gas stations and create a hydrogen highway. Mirai has a 300-mile range. It runs from zero to 60 in 9 seconds, which means it is not that fast.
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