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With the Mirai, Toyota has one of the few production cars with hydrogen drive on offer.
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The second edition of the Mirai follows this year.
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The Hyundai Nexo is the only other hydrogen car officially available in Switzerland.
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However, it is very interesting for trucks because the hydrogen drive affects the payload less than a battery.
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Toyota is testing corresponding trucks in the USA.
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When it comes to the drive of the future, the two largest car manufacturers in the world don’t really agree. Since the diesel scandal, the Volkswagen Group has relied entirely on electromobility. The ID.3 should kick off this year. In contrast, Toyota has so far successfully held on to the hybrid drive. Electric cars are currently also an issue, but the Japanese have an alternative with the Mirai: hydrogen-powered fuel cell cars.
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In principle, these are also electric cars. However, the electricity is not supplied by a battery, but is produced on board from hydrogen and oxygen. The only “exhaust gas” is water vapor.
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That speaks for it
The big advantage compared to a large travel battery: The fuel in the form of gaseous hydrogen can be filled up faster than a battery can be charged with electricity. Filling up takes about the same length as with petrol or diesel; after that, the cars cover between 400 and 500 kilometers. This is more than most e-cars with batteries do in everyday life.
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That speaks against it
But there are also problems: The quick refueling process is of little use – because there are hardly any petrol stations. The infrastructure is not full of holes, but practically non-existent. Hardly anyone invests in hydrogen filling stations, while charging stations sprout from the ground like honeysuckle because e-cars are politically preferred and in part are subsidized by the state. At least that applies to Europe. In Switzerland The large distributor Coop has been using hydrogen since 2016 and opened the first public hydrogen filling station in Switzerland in Hunzenschwil AG. Two years later, Coop was one of the founders of a funding association that plans to build a nationwide hydrogen filling station network in Switzerland by 2023. Six other locations are currently being planned.
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Furthermore, hydrogen production is currently still very expensive and not very environmentally friendly. However, there are efforts to produce clean hydrogen with excess capacities from water, wind and solar power. In addition, the technology is very complex and requires a lot of installation space, which is why even hydrogen SUVs do not have 4×4. And because of the small number, the vehicles are very expensive. The models currently offered in Switzerland, the Mirai and the Hyundai Nexo, both cost from CHF 89,900.
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Many projects have become quiet
At the moment, fuel cells are an issue especially for Asian brands. In addition to Toyota and Hyundai, Honda also says “Water march!”, Even if their Clarity Fuel Cell is currently not available in Switzerland. In Europe, on the other hand, it’s more like “hold water!”. VW has not yet completed its project until it is ready for series production. Mercedes announced the GLC F-Cell for the same fall two years ago, but it is not officially offered today.
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Toyota clamps BMW
BMW is now making (water) steam again. The Bavarians want the hydrogen drive from 2022 test in converted X5. The basis for this is the hydrogen drive of the Mirai, with which BMW already gained initial experience in a fleet of 5 GTs in 2013. Because the project arose from the partnership with Toyota, which also led to new editions of the BMW Z4 and Toyota Supra.
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However, BMW has not yet completely released the handbrake. A production model can only be expected after 2025. And the BMW i Hydrogen Next study already makes you want more. The system output is a decent 275 kW (374 hp). Two 700 bar tanks hold six kilograms of hydrogen, which corresponds to a range of around 600 kilometers.
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But even the hydrogen BMW is likely to be only a small series. Data specialist IHS Markit expects that only 150,000 hydrogen vehicles will be sold worldwide by 2025. The global car market comprises around 80 million vehicles. One reason is surely that many customers are still skeptical about electric mobility and wonder how much their next car must be electrified at all.
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A small chance remains
However, two facts could help the fuel cell to make a breakthrough. First, Chinese manufacturers are becoming more and more interested in it. Some have already entered into corresponding partnerships with Toyota. Second, the complex drive for trucks is much more suitable than batteries because the payload is less restricted. Trucks would benefit from short refueling times and long ranges. With them, the complex technology and large 700 bar tanks could easily be accommodated on the roof or behind the cab. If the petrol station infrastructure was then set up for the transport industry, the fuel cell could still be interesting for PW.
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