Toyota commences pilot project of Mirai FCEV with ICAT in India

Toyota Kirloskar Motors has commenced a pilot project of its latest hydrogen fuel cell car 'Mirai'. The study of the FCEV is being conducted by the International Center for Automotive Technology (ICAT) to evaluate the hydrogen car for Indian roads and operational conditions.

Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari launched the pilot project of the Toyota Mirai. Speaking at the event, he said that hydrogen-powered FCEVs are one of the best zero-emission solutions. In previous instances, he had reportedly claimed that he would start using the Toyota Mirai himself using hydrogen supplied by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL).

Gadkari noted that the mass adoption of green hydrogen technology will play a key role in securing sustainable and affordable energy in India. "India is committed to cleaner energy and a low-carbon pathway for achieving accelerated economic growth", said the official statement from the Union Ministry of Road Transportation.

This is a first-of-its-kind project in the country aimed at spreading awareness about hydrogen FCEV technology and disseminating its benefits to hydrogen-based society in India, said an earlier statement from the ministry. The pilot project is expected to help the government ascertain the reliability of hydrogen vehicles in Indian conditions.

The Mirai FCEV features a fuel-cell-powered battery pack that claims to offer a driving range of 650 kms with a refueling time of just 5 minutes. "Now, we are proud to introduce the second generation of the Toyota Mirai, with a 30 percent increase in range, better handling, and sharper styling", the company claimed.

The car is equipped with a high-pressure fuel tank to store hydrogen in a cryogenic state. The fuel-cell powertrain breaks the hydrogen to generate energy to be stored in the battery pack, which then powers the electric motors of the car.