What is the hydrogen powertrain of the Toyota Mirai?

The Hydrogen Powertrain of the Toyota Mirai
The Toyota Mirai is a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) that utilizes a hydrogen powertrain to generate electricity and power the vehicle. Here’s how the hydrogen powertrain of the Toyota Mirai works:
– Fuel Cell Stack: At the core of the Mirai, hydrogen from the fuel tank and air entering from the intake grille meet in the Fuel Cell Stack. In this stack, a chemical reaction occurs between the oxygen in the air and the hydrogen, creating electricity to power the Mirai. The only by-product of this reaction is water.
– Electric Motor: The Mirai is equipped with an electric motor that produces 182 horsepower. The electric motor is responsible for powering the Mirai and sending power to the rear wheels through a direct-drive transmission.
– Hydrogen Fuel Tanks: The Mirai has carbon-fiber-reinforced fuel tanks where hydrogen is stored. These tanks have been rigorously tested and proven to meet global standards. Refueling the Mirai is similar to refueling at a gasoline station. There is a pump and a nozzle, and hydrogen is pumped into the fuel tanks. After approximately five minutes, the Mirai is ready to hit the road.
– Water Vapor Emission: The only by-product of the Mirai’s hydrogen powertrain is water. As the hydrogen is converted into electricity, the oxygen in the air combines with the hydrogen to create water vapor, which is emitted from the vehicle.
It’s worth noting that the Toyota Mirai is currently only available in California.

How does the Toyota water engine work?

Producing the Energy
To generate electricity, the fuel cell will strip away the electrons, separating them from the protons. These electrons are then used to create pure electricity. The remaining hydrogen atoms are now ionized and they react with oxygen from the air to create water as well as heat.

What type of hydrogen is used in Toyota Mirai?

High-pressure hydrogen tanks
The tanks are 122 litres (27 imp gal; 32 US gal) combined, and store hydrogen at 70 MPa (10,000 psi).

What is the major downside of hydrogen power?

Cons: This space-age technology is expensive. Acceptable range requires extremely-high-pressure, on-board hydrogen storage. Few places to refuel. Hydrogen is very expensive to transport and there is no infrastructure in place yet.

Is there a downside to hydrogen cars?

More energy- and labor-intensive to store and transport hydrogen than gasoline or diesel fuel. Fuel cells are expensive to replace. Safety concerns over hydrogen flammability and electrical shock. Maintenance costs remain unclear.

What is the science behind the Toyota Mirai?

How Does It Create Electricity? At the core of Mirai, hydrogen from the fuel tank and air entering from the intake grille meet in the Fuel Cell Stack. There, a chemical reaction involving the oxygen in the air and hydrogen creates electricity—powering Mirai. In the end, the only by-product is water.

What engine does a hydrogen car have?

Hydrogen engines burn hydrogen in an internal combustion engine, in just the same way gasoline is used in an engine. Hydrogen internal combustion engines (Hydrogen ICE) are nearly identical to traditional spark-ignition engines. You can read more about how hydrogen engines work if interested.

What is hydrogen powertrain?

Like all-electric vehicles, fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) use electricity to power an electric motor. In contrast to other electric vehicles, FCEVs produce electricity using a fuel cell powered by hydrogen, rather than drawing electricity from only a battery.

What kind of engine is in a Toyota Mirai?

fuel-cell electric powertrain
The Toyota Mirai relies on a fuel-cell electric powertrain, which converts hydrogen gas into electricity. Essentially, this is a chemical laboratory on wheels. The electric motor powering the Mirai produces 182 horsepower, and a direct-drive transmission sends those ponies to the rear wheels.

What is the mechanism of Toyota hydrogen car?

Instead of using power from electricity stored in a battery, hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) generate their electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen in a fuel cell stack. It’s a process that leads to zero emissions apart from water.

How does the Toyota hydrogen engine work?

Yes, the Toyota Mirai has what’s known as a fuel-cell electric powertrain, which means that the onboard fuel cell generates electricity from hydrogen. As the smallest element, hydrogen easily compacts into the storage cells, remaining in a usable gas form at relatively low pressure.