Hydrogen stations

A fuel cell is an electrochemical energy conversion device that creates a chemical reaction between Hydrogen and oxygen from the atmosphere to generate electricity. It does not burn or compress Hydrogen, the catalyst within the fuel cell generates the electricity to drive the vehicle.

The Mirai chassis is designed around the fuel cell system to protect components in a collision and is equipped with safety sensors to detect potential Hydrogen leaks. If a collision is detected the hydrogen tank valves are shut off. The Mirai’s Hydrogen high-pressure tanks have a three-layer structure consisting of:

• Surface layer – fibreglass-reinforced polymer
• Middle layer – carbon fibre reinforced plastic
• Interior layer – plastic liner

Refuelling the Toyota Mirai at a commercial station takes approximately 3-5 mins from empty to full. Infrared communication between the Mirai and the refuelling station such as hydrogen tank information, temperature and pressure details are provided to the station to develop an efficient flow rate to allow for fast refuelling time. There is only one Toyota owned hydrogen refueller in Altona, Victoria. The Toyota Mirai is currently only available in limited numbers for business fleet to lease.

The Toyota Mirai is Toyota’s only Hydrogen Electric Vehicle and is currently only available in limited numbers for business fleet to lease. Currently, there is only one Toyota owned hydrogen refueller in Melbourne, Australia.

A hydrogen fuel cell uses the chemical energy of hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity without C02 tailpipe emissions. In fact, after the chemical reaction creates electricity, the only tailpipe emissions are water vapour and oxygen.

While all use electricity, the way they source it is different. HEVs use a petrol engine, and also create electricity from harnessing their own momentum (generated by the internal combustion engine) and storing it in batteries until it can be used.

Hydrogen powered vehicles create electricity through a chemical reaction in the hydrogen fuel cell, directly powering the electric motor when needed.

A BEV uses a battery-powered electric motor only and has fewer moving parts, which makes it more efficient. Unlike an internal combustion engine found in petrol cars (which generates power across a power band) the BEV’s electric motor(s) responds right away when the driver presses the accelerator, generating maximum torque from a complete standstill.