Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari believes that India will soon become a ‘green hydrogen’ exporter. Could Toyota Mirai be a foretaste of things to come?
Nitin Gadkari’s Toyota Mirai outside the parliament building. (Photo: Nitin Gadkari / Twitter)
With the recent arrival of Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari at the Parliament House in a Toyota Mirai, the pressure for alternative fuels seems to have gone one step further. What’s so special about Mirai? It is a hydrogen-based fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), much like the Hyundai Nexo and Honda Clarity. It certainly shows the commitment of the government and, indeed, the commitment of the Ministry of Transport when it comes to shifting to more environmentally friendly fuels.
Is Toyota Mirai an electric car?
Basically, yes. It is powered by a 1.24kWh battery pack capable of producing a decent 182PS and 406Nm of torque. What’s more, its claimed range is 646 kilometers, which is quite nice compared to some big EVs with big battery packs. However, the main difference is in the way Mirai saves its electricity. There is also an essential difference in the method of power supply.
How is an FCEV different from BEV?
This is an important bit. The main difference is in the way energy is stored. Of course, the FCEV also has a battery pack, but it is relatively small and attached to a hydrogen fuel cell. These fuel cells then use the electricity generated by the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen and even store it in a sealed tank, such as a petrol, diesel or CNG powered vehicle. However, what makes FCEV particularly interesting is that hydrogen gas can be recovered within five minutes.
Will it catch up in India?
This is certainly a way of alternative fuels which should be explored in more detail. Not long ago, Gadkari launched the green hydrogen-based Advanced Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV), Toyota Mirai, and said it was the first of its kind in India aimed at creating an ecosystem for such vehicles. The country. Although more expensive than some of the battery-powered electric vehicles out there, it may prove to be a cleaner way thanks to the fact that the tailpipes only emit water vapor as an exhaust. In fact, Gadkari tweeted that India would soon become a ‘green hydrogen’ exporter.