[mchandra13]

I have test driven Toyota Mirai for half a day in a Toyota road show in LA, which is the largest and probably the only market for Mirai. The car is completely practical and drives as well as any EV in the market.
EVs are not very cheap when compared to gas both in initial cost as well as maintenance costs. overall the cost of ownership may be slightly cheaper for EVs. Hydrogen as of now is more expensive and may come down in future.

China is the largest producer of EVs and also their largest consumer. As of 2022, China produces roughly 50% of all EVs manufactured in the world. At the same time around 25% of new cars sold in China are EVs. Even with all that, the % of EVs on China roads is close to 15%. Still they are global leader in EV adoption way ahead of Europe. US numbers are even bleaker. only 2% of cars on US roads are EVs. EVs have established themselves as good urban cars but their usage in long distance travel is still not very practical and needs a careful route planning to ensure chargers are available on the way.

Based on these facts, EVs have a long way to go to establish themselves as dominant alternative to ICE vehicles. In the meantime, its heartening to see a market leader like Toyota trying out multiple alternatives for EVs thru Hydrogen powered vehicles.
When we discuss about EVs and the associated battery pollution, we show a lot of optimism that things will improve in the coming days but when we talk about improvements in Hydrogen production, we dont believe that the technology can improve in reasonable timeframe. I dont understand this skepticism towards H2 technology.

Personally as of now, I am committed to my petrol car and may be a hybrid in the near future. I dont have any preference towards a future technology be it, EVs or H2 powered. I will pick whatever works for me based on my driving patterns at that time. I dont see a clear winner anytime soon and there might be a period where ICEs, EVs and H2 based vehicles will all co-exist before we gravitate towards a more dominant technology eventually.

[volkman10]

Toyota Corolla Cross 6 MT Hydrogen may be enthusiasts' saving grace,

Toyota's engineers are confident:

We think sound is essential. We are developing the hydrogen engine to preserve the fun-to-drive engine, and the sound for the future

Having experienced the very prototype in Thailand recently, we left thinking that hey, this SUV might just be the one that keeps the recipe we know and love around for longer.

The G16E-GTS in this Corolla Cross H2 Concept previews just that, with the only changes done are the swapping of the petrol tank with a pair of hydrogen canisters, new injectors, and spark plugs.

Hydrogen engines only change the fuel system from the petrol engine. In other words, we can utilise engine technologies that we've developed up to now

One such gain is in power, where Toyota says they've been able to increase hydrogen combustion power by 24%, torque by 33%, and range by 30%, acheiving about the same level of performance like regular, petrol-engined cars do.

Powertrain's one half the battle. With all other internal combustion hydrogen-fuelled cars are two seaters, where then does knowhow come in making the Corolla Cross suitable for families?

That knowledge comes from the low-slung and sleek fuel-cell EV that seats five, the Toyota Mirai.

The same concept learnt there is applied to the Corolla Cross, where the tanks are placed below the rear seats, and one right under the boot floor. This translates to more than enough space to seat five passengers, as well as a majorly useable boot space.

Driving:

Entertaining it was too, as the Corolla Cross healthily built-up speed along the straights. Power figures were still coded in secrecy (slightly lesser than the base 272 PS the G16E-GTS makes, for initial tests and reliability studies), yet it seems perfectly adequate for a family SUV.

In the comfort test and slalom zones, it did OK. Sitting at the back, weight didn't feel like too much of an issue. The twin carbon-fibre reinforced tanks weigh a combined 83 kgs in the Mirai, thereabouts here – added to its lumbering feeling, but nothing where the inertia is too great.

Overall, it's special. Not just as a product on its own, but what it stands for – at least someone is doing something to keep the recipe we know and love alive for us to enjoy, well into a petrol-less future.

The journey ahead is arduous; Toyota says they're only about 40% on the path to commercialization with products like these

















Link