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The 2015 Toyota Mirai may be breaking new ground in the fuel-cell vehicle game beyond merely existing, as subsidies galore are being thrown at potential consumers on all sides, including the possibility of owning the FCV for free.
Automotive News reports the ¥7 million ($68,556 USD) Mirai — whose name translates to “future” — will receive a ¥2 million (~$20,000) subsidy from the Japanese government when the first models go on sale next year, with residents of Aichi prefecture — the home of Toyota — taking an extra ¥1 million (~$10,000) from the local government.
However, paying only as much as ¥4 million ($39,175) for the honor of being one of the new pioneers of the silver hydrogen future might not be enough to bring the Mirai out of the showroom, as fueling infrastructure is nearly non-existent. The Japanese government aims to bring 100 stations online by March 2015 at the earliest, for what it’s worth.
So, where does the “free car” offer come in? Japanese business daily Nihon Keizai reported on a few suggestions made by a government panel on how to spur FCV adoption rates, including offering free FCVs, free hydrogen refueling and toll exemptions. The daily explained that the government’s hydrogen vision “must contain more radical ideas” in order to generate excitement from the public and “catalyze a revolutionary socioeconomic change.” A hell of a way to push the Mirai for Summerslam, one would suppose.
Not good enough. Pay me.
It’s so ugly though.
Should have named it MINIKUI
With a 10,000 psi hydrogen tank, I wouldn’t be surprised if these things are banned from tunnels and building basement parking garages.
Natural Gas CNG is so much safer…
Not to mention CHEAPER…
Hard to imagine the beloved Japanese automaker by so many people that don’t purchase American branded autos is actually no different then GM. The Japanese government is not so different from the United States government when it comes to subsidising autos.
Despite all the news I’ve seen on this car & the subsidies Japan is offering, I haven’t seen any in-depth reporting why Japan is so gung-ho on hydrogen.
I don’t get it either. It’s not efficient to produce hydrogen, it’s a PITA to deal with, its fuel density is low, and the the preferred method of turning it into propulsion is expensive. Plus, it’s hard to transport and the fueling stations will be expensive.
Well, that’s why hydrogen doesn’t make sense in the first place. What really stumps me is why Japan with no natural gas reserves to speak of (the only current way to effectively get hydrogen), wants to go that direction. It’s almost as if they want to put themselves at a worse competitive disadvantage.
I think Japan is setting up to convince the population to return to nuclear power generation as nuclear plants are ideal locations to produce hydrogen via steam electrolysis.
Thanks cdorson. That’s the most credible explanation I’ve seen since Japan and Toyota announced their love affair with Hydrogen.
I must say as a consumer, free car plus free fuel sounds like a great deal. Such desperate pronouncements do support the idea of a hidden agenda. I think you’ve nailed it on the head.
Even more so than the Camry SE, this Toyota Mirai looks “grounded to the ground.”
I’ll give them props for having a culture that can encourage innovation without the need for immediate returns on investment. The world may end up in a better place because of their initiatives and subjecting their efforts to ridicule is short sighted and ignorant imho.
There are too many fundamental issues with hydrogen as a fuel. That’s where the negative reaction comes from. Even if you figure out how to make the fuel cell cost effective, the production of hydrogen is inefficient by nature.
I just can’t believe Toyota wants to release a car with this styling. Toyota’s had some hits and misses recently, but nothing as dog ugly as this vehicle.
most modern cars are ugly. I think this one’s a bit less ugly than average.