TOKYO: Toyota not only cranked out the cutting-edge hybrid electric Prius, it’s now hard at work on the Mirai, a beautiful hydrogen-fuelled vehicle that the company calls the “big sister to the Prius.”
To generate buzz for the sleek Mirai, the company released its first in a series of new short films on Wednesday surrounding its model’s debut. The videos, directed by famed filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, discuss the science and technology behind what Toyota views as the future.
“Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. It’s in almost everything, from water to trees to grass. That’s what makes hydrogen such an exciting fuel. But the critics have been vocal,” the ad states.
While there’s no denying hydrogen is an exciting look at what could one day be Hyundai and Honda are working on similar hydrogen cars, too there are major challenges on the road ahead. To start, there are only a few hydrogen fuel cell stations in a limited amount of locations. This restriction alone goes against the very essence of what the car represents: freedom.
There will be just 15 to 20 hydrogen stations in the state of California by the end of this year and the Northeast will get a similar rollout by 2016. There are only a couple hundred cars coming to the market too, which don’t necessarily match up with the amount of stations available to help drivers get across the country for a road trip.
But Toyota is working hard to educate consumers about the possibilities, as well as how to use the Mirai drivers will have to get used to powering it up with a start button. It might be a challenge, but Toyota is unquestionably trying to steer the industry toward a more efficient future.
