We've driven the Toyota Mirai to find out the truth about hydrogen cars

We got behind the wheel of the Toyota Mirai to find out more about why everyone seems to be talking about hydrogen cars at the moment.

Hydrogen cars are all the rage at the minute.

Everyone’s talking about them, and many are wondering why we aren’t doing more to adopt those instead of battery vehicles.

Well, during our test, Toyota North America may have (accidentally?) explained the biggest reason why.

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What does the Toyota Mirai feel like to drive?

One of the most common misconceptions about hydrogen cars is that hydrogen replaces the engine – it doesn’t.

Instead, hydrogen fuel cells replace batteries, but the engine of a hydrogen car, with exceptions, is generally always electric.

The Toyota Mirai, for example, is the world’s best-selling hydrogen car, and it uses an electric motor, which is powered by hydrogen fuel cells instead of batteries.

As a result, the Toyota Mirai feels largely the same as any other EV to drive.

It’s comfortable, very smooth, and quite nippy.

Toyota says it does 0-60mph in 7.6 seconds, which is not bad for an 182-horsepower car.

It’s not a race car, but it’s no slouch either.

Why hydrogen cars aren’t more popular

Hydrogen cars, also known as FCEVs (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles) have two clear advantages over battery-powered electric vehicles.

First, charging only takes a few minutes, not half an hour or more.

Second, hydrogen, unlike for example the lithium and cobalt that are used to manufacture batteries, doesn’t need to be mined or sourced.

But this brings us on to what is probably the main reason why FCEVs aren’t catching on.

It may also explain why the Mirai is one of only four FCEVs currently in production, along with the Honda CR-V e:FCEV, the Hyundai Nexo, the BMW iX Hydrogen.

The range isn’t always that great, for example one Toyota Mirai owner said $90 at the ‘pump’ only got him 176 miles, and certainly doesn’t help.

But there’s something else.

Another problem that’s even bigger.

When the PR person from Toyota North American explained the process required to turn hydrogen into fuel, it gave us a collective headache.

In order to create a BEV, automakers battery manufacturers use a system that’s more or less tried and tested, and it is also a system that’s quickly getting more efficient.

By contrast, compressing, pressurizing and cooling down hydrogen, storing it in tanks, manufacturing fuel cells is still very expensive and even more complicated.

If you’re thinking the government’s push towards BEVs rather than FCEVs has something to do with it – well – you’re not alone.

Toyota said pretty much the same thing.