Toyota Mirai owner of three years says she loves driving the car but improvement needed on refill costs and range
- A three-year Toyota Mirai driver reveals all
- She loves driving it
- Sadly, its range and refill costs aren’t as loveable
Published on Nov 21, 2024 at 8:47 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Nov 22, 2024 at 10:53 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
A long-term US Toyota Mirai driver has been behind the wheel of his hydrogen-powered car for three years and loves it, but claims its range and refill costs leave her feeling a bit torn.
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric vehicles (FCEV) are said to be just the start for hydrogen power.
Being in its infancy, there are some sticking points.
Even though this driver loves her hydrogen car, there are issues – such as the range and fuel prices.
DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
Toyota Mirai powered by hydrogen
You’ve heard the promises surrounding hydrogen FCEV, but this interview by The Autopian lays car owner Micheline’s experience completely bare, and it’s fair to say that there is still room for improvement.
A new Toyota Mirai will set you back around $50,000 – sadly, this value depreciates rapidly, with three-to-four-year-old models losing a decent chunk of their value.
That’s not uncommon with many cars – and certainly not specific to the Toyota Mirai – but left this driver a little divided over her choice.
The Mirai uses fuel cells to generate electricity for an electric motor – check out what this Supercar Blondie writer thought when he took it for a spin.
Theoretically, this should mean a rapid refueling time of five minutes for a theoretical range of 400 miles.
Hydrogen production is energy-intensive, costly, and certainly needs improvement across the board – although it’s early days just yet.
Toyota recently announced plans this summer to build a revolutionary hydrogen engine even larger than the one before.
More fuelling points, better infrastructure, and more availability in general should see these problems start to slowly clear up.
Range and refill costs
According to Micheline, refueling costs are high.
In fact, refill costs can exceed $100 per tank – making it comparatively expensive when compared to gasoline or an electric vehicle, despite an initial free-fuel period.
What’s more, with fewer than 100 hydrogen fueling stations in the US, there are practical challenges for owners.
Some hydrogen car drivers have reported having to tow their vehicles to refuel.
Limited range is also a divisive issue.
With 240 miles (386km) per tank being reported instead of the promised 300+, (483+km) and logistical challenges.
The upside?
The Mirai drives smoothly like an EV, and this driver claimed that she ‘loves’ the car.
The article also points out many positives, including ‘decent build quality, a well-engineered ride [and] good safety tech’.
In conclusion, it’s early days for the technology, and we’re all going to have to get on board with alternative fuel methods if we’re going to save the environment.
As the article concludes, we are dealing with a ‘damn fine car let down by — for the most part — infrastructure’.
Let’s hope things can turn around pretty quickly.
All Supercar Blondie contributors undergo editorial review and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and authority in automotive journalism. After gaining her BA Hons in French and English at the University of Nottingham, Amelia embarked on a vocational diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This led to numerous opportunities, from interning at Vogue to being on the small team that launched Women’s Health magazine in the UK, which was named the PPA Consumer magazine of the year for three years running. As Health, Beauty and Fitness editor, Amelia personally received a Johnson & Johnson Award and was shortlisted for both PPA and BSME titles. Since then, Amelia has created content for numerous titles and brands, including the Telegraph, 111 Skin, Waitrose, Red magazine, Stylist, and Elle, as well as being Head of Content at Vitality and Editor in Chief at INLondon magazine. “My superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a relatable story you’ll want to share with your friends after you’ve read it.” After joining the SB Media family as a senior journalist in September of 2023, Amelia’s role has evolved to see her heading up the SEO output of the editorial team. From researching the most ‘Google-able’ key terms to producing evergreen content - it’s been a time of hard work, growth, and success for the editorial team and the Supercar Blondie website. “I like to think of myself as a ‘method journalist’. In other words: I live and breathe whatever I am writing about. When writing about fitness, I trained as a personal trainer, and as a beauty editor, I completed an ‘expert’ in scent diploma with the Fragrance Foundation. “During my tenure at Supercar Blondie, however, I did something I never thought possible: I passed my driving test at the age of 36. One day I’d love to train as a mechanic to better understand what happens under the hood, too. “My sweet spot is providing readers with a ‘takeaway’ (read: something new they didn’t know before) after reading every one of my stories. While I don’t claim to be an expert in the automotive world, I know the experts and bodies in the field to rely on to provide our readers with an informative and thought-provoking story every time they visit the site.”
