I recently looked into the Toyota Mirai, and honestly, it’s a pretty interesting car. The name “Mirai” means “future” in Japanese, and I can see why Toyota picked it. It’s their first mass-produced hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (FCV), which makes it stand out from regular electric cars.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Toyota |
| Production | 2014–present |
| Class | Mid-size sedan |
| Body Style | 4-door sedan |
| Powertrain | Hydrogen fuel cell |
| Drivetrain | Front-wheel-drive (JPD10) / Rear-wheel-drive (JPD20) |
What I Found Out About Its Launch
Toyota first showed off the Mirai at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2014. Sales started in Japan in December of that year, and the price was about $57.400.
Japanese government even chipped in with subsidy of $19.600 to make it more affordable. In the U.S., it launched in 2015, mainly in California since that’s where hydrogen stations are available. By mid-2016, it was also sold in parts of Europe, including the U.K., Germany, Denmark, Belgium, and Norway.
How Many Have Sold?
| Year | Global Sales | Top Markets |
| 2022 | 21,475 | U.S. (11,368), Japan (7,435), Others (2,622) |
From what I saw, most of the sales have been in the U.S., which makes sense since California has more hydrogen stations than other places. But even so, the numbers aren’t huge compared to regular electric cars.
Fuel Efficiency and Range – Pretty Impressive!
I was really curious about how far this thing can go on a full tank. Turns out, the 2016 model had a range of 502 km (312 miles) according to the EPA, and it was rated at 66 MPGe. But the 2021 model blew my mind—it managed 1,360 km (845 miles) on just 5.65 kg (12.5 lb) of hydrogen!
| Model Year | EPA Range | Fuel Economy (MPGe) |
| 2016 | 502 km (312 mi) | 66 MPGe |
| 2021 (Gen 2) | 1,360 km (845 mi) | N/A |
The Big Challenge: Hydrogen Stations
While I think hydrogen cars like the Mirai are really cool, the biggest problem is finding a place to refuel. Unlike electric cars, where you can charge at home, hydrogen stations are rare. This makes it hard for more people to buy them. Toyota seems committed to pushing forward with FCVs, though, so maybe in the future, things will improve.
