Toyota has introduced a new generation of its Toyota Mirai hydrogen sedan. According to the manufacturer, it is better in every way and will be available at a lower price than its predecessor. That is why the Japanese have ambitious sales targets. They also point out that the vehicle can purify the air while driving.
Toyota’s priority was to expand the range in the case of the 2nd generation Mirai. The 30% increase in performance to “approx. 650 km” was helped by an increase in power along with an increase in the capacity of the hydrogen storage tanks (volume 5.6 kg), a reduction in fuel consumption and an improvement in aerodynamics.
The new Toyota Mirai is built on the modular Toyota GA-L chassis platform with significantly better space utilization. Thanks to a more efficient and balanced set-up of the new FCEV powertrain – notably by moving the fuel cell set from under the cab to the front of the vehicle – it was possible to create a more spacious five-seater cab with increased legroom in the rear.
Mirai also has more attractive conformation proportions. The vehicle was lowered a total of 65 mm to 1,470 mm and at the same time the wheelbase was extended by 140 mm (to 2,920 mm). By extending the body’s rear overhang by 85 mm, the overall length of the vehicle was increased to 4,975 mm. Increasing the wheelbase by 75 mm and using larger wheels (19 or 20 inches) resulted in a more dynamic stance and an optically lower center of gravity.
Thanks to the new placement of the drive chain, the new Toyota Mirai has an ideal weight distribution between the front and rear axles in a ratio of 50:50.
New propulsion system
Toyota Mirai 2 uses a new set of fuel cells in combination with a fuel cell energy converter (FCPC). The designers were able to combine all the necessary elements in one block (including water pumps, intercooler, air conditioning, air compressors and a hydrogen recirculation pump). System components are now smaller and lighter, which is also reflected in better performance (12% more power and 50% weight reduction).
As with the Mirai 1, the fuel cell kit uses a solid polymer electrolyte, but it is new and smaller and contains fewer cells (330 instead of 370). Nevertheless, it shows a record high specific energy density of 5.4 kW / l (if we don’t count the end plates). Max. Height and power thus increased from 114 to 128 kW.
The new Toyota Mirai uses a high-voltage lithium-ion battery, which replaces the current model’s NiMH battery. It offers a nominal voltage of 310.8 V and a capacity of 4.0 Ah – 1.24 kWh. Power increased from 25.5 kW x 10 seconds to 31.5 kW x 10 seconds.
Air purification while driving
A catalytic converter filter is built into the air intake system. The vehicle draws in air for the fuel cell, while the electrical charge on the non-woven filter element traps microscopic particles of impurities, including sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrous oxide (NOx) and PM2.5 particles. The system achieves such an efficiency that it removes 90 to 100% of particles up to 2.5 micrometers in diameter from the air flowing to the fuel cell system.
Ambitious sales plans
With the launch of the new generation of the Mirai, Toyota aims to achieve deeper market penetration with a tenfold increase in sales volume (approximately 10,000 units of the first generation were sold from 2015 to October 2019). This growth should be supported by better driving skills and greater attractiveness of the model from the customer’s point of view, as well as a more affordable vehicle price tag (sales price decreased by about 20%).
The price of the basic version in Germany starts at € 63,900 (including 19% VAT). Better equipped variants cost € 66,900 (Executive), resp. € 73,900 (advanced).
Source: press release (Toyota)
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