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Hybrids and plug-in electric vehicles seem to be what most automakers and consumers are looking for when they want to go green. However, Toyota hasn't given up on their idea of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and is predicting a tenfold increase in sales by 2020. This isn't a huge number of cars, but the fact that a hydrogen refueling infrastructure only exists in California kind of limits what they can do. All I can say is go for it, Toyota. If we can expand the infrastructure to other states and bring costs down this could be a very legitimate competitor to plug-ins. As a matter of fact I think the advantage of quick refueling is a major advantage for hydrogen fuel cells. Bring on the competition.
Fuel cell electrification takes advantage of the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity. The only output is pure water, in fact, which the Mirai vents from a small port underneath the car. The hydrogen itself is stored in a high-pressure tank, which Toyota says can absorb five times the crash energy of steel without rupturing. A full tank is enough for 312 miles of range, and can be refilled in around five minutes.
Fuel cell electrification takes advantage of the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity. The only output is pure water, in fact, which the Mirai vents from a small port underneath the car. The hydrogen itself is stored in a high-pressure tank, which Toyota says can absorb five times the crash energy of steel without rupturing. A full tank is enough for 312 miles of range, and can be refilled in around five minutes.