The ongoing fuel crisis in India recently reached a new high after fuel prices were hiked for the 8th time in nine days. To end our reliance on fossil fuels, India’s Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari has long been promoting alternative energy solutions. Putting his words into action, Gadkari today rolled into the Parliament in a first-of-its-kind in India hydrogen-powered car, the Toyota Mirai. The Toyota Mirai was given to Gadkari as a part of the brand’s pilot project in India. Here’s everything we know about the car.
It apparently costs Rs 2 per kilometre to run
As per Gadkari, the Mirai is proficiently efficient. According to the minister, the car “costs around Rs 1.5 to Rs 2 per kilometre to run and has a range of 600km.” In the same statement, he also compared the running costs of EVs, which come to around Rs 1 per kilometre.
A premium cabin
The cabin of the Toyota Mirai sold in international markets is as luxurious as it can be. With silver accents and perforated, embossed seats, the car drips in luxury. Further enhancing the oomph factor are the heated and ventilated seats, three-zone climate control, multi-coloured ambient lighting and a dual fixed panoramic view moonroof.
Feature-packed
The Mirai, which translates to ‘Future’ in Japanese is packed with some pretty futuristic tech. This includes a 12.3-in. touchscreen display with Bluetooth connectivity and dynamic navigation, a head-up display, a bird’s eye view camera, Qi-Wireless charging and a digital rear-view mirror, which lets you zoom in and out.
Safety here is handled by eight airbags, a blind-spot monitoring system, front and rear park assist, hill-start assists, active cornering assist and more.
Under the hood
Powering the Toyota Mirai is a 1.2 kWh lithium-ion battery, which runs the 4JM fuel-cell powertrain. It produces 185PS of power and 406Nm of torque, mated to a rear-wheel-drive platform. Toyota claims the hydrogen car can sprint from 0-100kmph in 9.2 seconds. The Mirai gets three hydrogen tanks, which gives an estimated range of around 600kms.
Pricing of the Toyota Mirai
Overseas, Toyota offers the Mirai in two different trims: the XLE and the Limited. The former costs around $49,500 (Rs 37.5 lakh) and the latter comes at a price tag of $66,000 (Rs 50.10 lakh). Toyota has already commenced its pilot project in India, and this indicates that the car will come to our shores soon. However, it should be noted that there are only two hydrogen fueling stations in the entire country. We hope by the time it does arrive, that number will see a rise.
