Toyota Mirai owner outlined big hydrogen issue for America
- This Toyota Mirai owner took his car to a hydrogen refueling station for the first time
- There were things about the process that put it ahead of EVs
- However, there was one big issue for hydrogen car drivers in America
Published on Oct 31, 2024 at 5:14 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Oct 31, 2024 at 5:15 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
This YouTuber drove a hydrogen car for the first time and noticed a big problem with driving them in America.
Kyle, the host of Out of Spec Reviews, took a closer look at a Toyota Mirai and visited a True Zero Hydrogen fueling station.
Needless to say, there were some differences that would take some getting used to.
But there’s one issue that stood out to him as an American driver.
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Paying a visit to the hydrogen fueling station
As the world grows increasingly concerned about climate change and pollution, zero emission cars are becoming increasingly popular.
Electric vehicles are often being touted as the future, but hydrogen is another alternative to gas.
But which of the two is preferable in the long run?
Hydrogen is often pushed as being the superior option as it takes less time to recharge.
But how does it stack up in other areas?
In his video outlining the process, Kyle visited a fueling station in California.
This isn’t the first time he has done a deep-dive video into the Mirai, as he has also given his subscribers an in-depth look at the refueling process.
Right off the bat, he named a negative of a hydrogen car: “You have to come to a station like this, and you can’t just plug it in the wall at home.
“A EV today is easier to live with and own than a hydrogen car.”
Using a H70 pump, it took around five minutes to charge up the car – whereas it would take 15 minutes to charge a Tesla vehicle up to 200 miles.
Kyle lauded the charging process, but conceded locating the station proved to be tricky.
In fact, he singled out infrastructure as the single biggest hurdle.
How many stations are there in America?
He told his viewers: “I think finding the station was the most annoying part.
“In terms of infrastructure, a few years ago there were only eight or nine fueling stations in California.
“It all comes down to – can the infrastructure support the car? Outside of California, no.
“There’s maybe one or two others across the country, but nothing you could rely on.”
According to the Department of Energy, there are 59 hydrogen fueling stations in the US.
The vast majority are in California, with one also being in Hawaii.
Five are currently planned for states in the northeast.
The rivalry between EVs and hydrogen cars will continue to rage on, as buyers weigh up the pros and cons.
To check out Kyle’s review for yourself, head over to Out of the Spec Reviews’ YouTube channel.
