Remember when all the brands started developing EVs by considering them a future proposition? Perhaps they have taken a back seat with the fast-paced innovation the industry is going through. This is just what experts say is happening because of the new fuel that more and more cars will be able to carry. It is zero emissions, generates only water vapor and is extremely efficient.
New brand rejects EVs: will stop making them sooner than you think
Toyota has for a long time been aware of the hydrogen fuel vehicle concept. The automaker first started the project of this technology in more than 25 years ago, and it was the first to notice that hydrogen can be used to power the cars with zero emissions.
Although most automobile companies were into the battery electric vehicles, Toyota still saw hydrogen as the future, really green, sustainable transportation. Lately, Toyota has again put a lot more resources into hydrogen investments.
This is a big strategic shift, as the company is going to move away from hybrids and battery electric vehicles to fuel cells. Having spent over twenty years on the research and development of hydrogen, Toyota is now of the firm belief that the time is ripe for the adoption of hydrogen.
This is the new brand that is using hydrogen as a fuel: niether American, nor German
The Toyota Mirai is a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle that uses hydrogen gas to generate electricity for the motor. The hydrogen is kept in the high-pressure tanks and the fuel cell “stack” where it is converted into electricity by reacting with the oxygen in the air.
The electrochemical reaction leads to the generation of electricity which is used to run the motor while water is the only byproduct. Fuel cell electric vehicles have some benefits that are not so common in battery electric vehicles.
Toyota has put a lot of money into the development of hydrogen fuel cell technology and it is the first company to bring hydrogen powered cars to the market. They created the very first Mirai model in 2014 and have been working on a fuel cell system that is getting more powerful, efficient and durable.
The newest version is the one which has a 30% rise in the range. Toyota is an expert in fuel cell stacks, hydrogen storage and refueling infrastructure, so their knowledge will be useful for the promotion of the adoption of hydrogen fuel.
New hydrogen factory to develop most futuristic cars in the world
Toyota recently opened a new hydrogen factory in France as one of the key steps in its bigger project to increase the hydrogen production. The new factory is designed to augment the hydrogen supply and infrastructure in Europe that will help Toyota in achieving its goal of producing fuel cell vehicles.
The Rhone-Alpes region is where the hydrogen factory is located. This will generate hydrogen by the process of water electrolysis, with the help of renewable energy sources such as hydropower and solar. The factory can manufacture enough hydrogen to fill 1,600 fuel cell cars annually.
For Toyota, this new hydrogen factory signifies a huge step towards the growth of its actions in Europe in the field of fuel cell technology. The company has high aims to extend its hydrogen fuel cell vehicle fleet and thinks hydrogen is a promising zero emission option.
The fact that we are going to use hydrogen as a fuel shows that, for the future of mobility, we should diversify. We could even consider other alternatives that you have seen with us, such as biofuels, ammonia or even methanol (mostly alcohol). Do you understand why not everything will be hybrids and electrics? It is becoming increasingly clear to us.
