Toyota's fuel-cell car Mirai to debut in December
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TOKYO - Toyota Motor Corp announced Tuesday that its fuel cell vehicle Mirai will go on sale with a price tag of 7.24 million yen (US$62,000) on December 15, becoming the first automaker to introduce an FCV.
To promote wider use of FCVs, the government announced the same day that it would offer 2.02 million yen in subsidies to those who purchase the vehicle. Customers will therefore effectively pay 5.2 million yen ($45,000) for the Mirai, which means “future” in Japanese.
Models to be sold in Hokkaido and Okinawa will have slightly different specifications and prices compared to those in other parts of the country.
Japan’s largest automaker said it aimed to sell about 400 units by the end of the next year. Toyota has already received preorders of about 200 units from government offices.
Toyota said units could be delivered to customers during summer next year or later if they place an order after release in December.
FCVs have been dubbed the “ultimate” eco-friendly vehicle because they only emit water vapor.
The Mirai is a four-seat sedan that eschews an engine and gasoline tank for fuel cells and a high-pressure hydrogen tank.
Hydrogen refueling takes about three minutes, and the Mirai can travel about 650 kilometers on one tank. Offering quiet driving and quick acceleration, the Mirai can also provide power during times of disaster.
But slow progress in building more hydrogen stations poses a big challenge for the widespread use of FCVs.
