Mirai, Toyota’s first all-hydrogen electric vehicle, was launched in India earlier this month. Toyota launched a car that runs on hydrogen-generated electricity in collaboration with the International Center for Automotive Technology (ICAT). Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, used the first car of its kind to reach the Parliament on Wednesday.
The Toyota Mirai, which Nitin Gadkari launched on March 16, is India’s first Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV). The car manufacturer claims that Mirai can travel up to 600 kilometers on a full tank. As a pilot project, the car has been viewed as a step toward promoting green hydrogen.
About Toyota Mirai
The second generation of the car will be mass-produced at Toyota’s plant in Karnataka. The car was first made publicly available in the United States in December 2020. The Mirai has a high-pressure hydrogen fuel tank and an electric motor that powers the vehicle. Unlike traditional ICEs, a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain emits water from the tailpipe, reducing emissions to near-zero levels.
Toyota Mirai Hydrogen car price in India
The price of the 5-seater Sedan in India has yet to be announced. However, Toyota released the Single-Speed automatic car’s price at USD 66,000, which roughly converts to Rs 50,00,000. Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) is currently undergoing a pilot project with ICAT to study the FCEV Toyota Mirai’s operation on Indian roads and climatic conditions.
Union Min reaches Parliament in India’s 1st Green Hydrogen-powered car
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari drove India’s first green hydrogen-powered car to Parliament on Wednesday and spoke about the government’s green hydrogen initiative. While speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways said that green hydrogen is the solution to India’s fuel problem. He acknowledged the country’s increasing petrol and diesel prices. He said with the rise in fuel prices, it is natural that the common man is facing problems.
Speaking about the price of green hydrogen as fuel, the Road Transport and Highways Minister said that power will get cheaper in the country due to green hydrogen. Mentioning the price of petrol as Rs. 10 per km for transport, Gadkari said the cost of green hydrogen will be slightly more than electricity (Rs. 1 per km), amounting to only Rs. 2 per km. He further highlighted the new employment opportunities that will follow with the development of green hydrogen production in the country.