AGOURA HILLS, Calif. – You assume the nation’s electrical charging infrastructure is dangerous? Attempt proudly owning a hydrogen-powered automobile!
Likelihood is, you reside in a spot the place that isn’t even potential, however right here in California, there are certainly hydrogen filling stations dotted all through the key metropolitan areas and, as such, automobiles on the market or lease that make the most of hydrogen gasoline cells. OK, so there’s presently simply two, the Toyota Mirai and Hyundai Nexo, however the Honda Readability Gasoline Cell had been accessible up till 2021.
I obtained an opportunity to drive the Readability on its press launch together with the first-generation Mirai (finest recognized for horrifying all who gazed upon it), however as I spent 5 of the final six years in Portland, Ore., and subsequently outdoors the hydrogen infrastructure, I had not had an opportunity to spend a typical week-long press mortgage with a fuel-cell automobile. And I nonetheless haven’t, however we’ll get to that.
The present-generation Toyota Mirai dates again to mannequin yr 2021, and as anybody with functioning imaginative and prescient can attest, is as radical a visible departure as you will get. What was as soon as a vaguely Prius-like lump of four-seat, front-wheel-drive hideousness emerged from a cocoon to turn into a protracted, glossy, five-seat, rear-wheel-drive luxurious sedan with loads of engineering enhancements to go along with it.
At this level, it’s most likely finest to elucidate what precisely a hydrogen gasoline cell automobile is. It’s broadly comparable in idea to a hybrid powertrain, with an electrical motor and battery pack, however with a hydrogen gasoline cell as an alternative of an inside combustion engine. The gasoline cell itself is technically a set of a number of cells the place hydrogen and oxygen are chemically mixed to create the electrical energy wanted to maneuver the automobile and replenish the battery (a lot as a Toyota hybrid’s engine does). As you may recall from primary chemistry, the byproduct of mixing hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O) is water. No smog-causing or climate-changing emissions, only a mild mist of H2O spritzing the automobiles behind you when accelerating. I converse from expertise – I’ve been spritzed on a number of events by highway-going Mirais.
For essentially the most half, the Mirai drives like an electrical automobile because the rear-mounted electrical motor completely propells the wheels. That motor produces 182 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, which isn’t that a lot for a big sedan that weighs 4,335 kilos. That could be lower than what an all-electric automobile of its dimension would weigh, however acceleration is however on the pokey facet. It has the everyday, fast torque response of an EV or a series-style hybrid like numerous Hondas, however issues actually begin to hit the wall as speeds enhance, say, when accelerating onto the freeway. I used to be surprised to search out Motor Development clocked a Mirai from zero to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds – it feels two seconds slower than that.
Apart from that, the hydrogen gasoline cell solely emits an standard whine when being pushed, however there’s actually nothing bizarre about driving what’s a really bizarre automobile. The identical could be mentioned past the powertrain realm. I drove the Mirai out into the Santa Monica Mountains and it very a lot behaved like a big Lexus sedan since that’s precisely what it’s beneath, sharing the identical glorious platform because the LS and LC. You may really feel the sophistication of the suspension in the best way it responds to mid-corner bumps and maintains its composure round turns, however not like the LC and to a lesser extent, the LS, there may be little in the best way of engagement current. There’s functionality with out suggestions.
With the dynamic portion of this system out of the best way, my would-be week with the Mirai transitioned to extra mundane issues. Particularly, dropping my spouse off at LAX 38 miles away, adopted by a further 20-mile drive to a studio location in Lengthy Seashore for a sneak-peak of the 2024 Acura TLX and 2024 Honda Ridgeline. Do the mathematics, and I’d want no less than 110 miles to make the journey. Theoretically, this could not have been an issue. Theoretically.
The Mirai has three carbon fiber-reinforced tanks: one behind the rear axle, one other in entrance of it and a 3rd operating the size of the middle tunnel. By the best way, the battery sits above the axle whereas the gasoline cell is up entrance the place an engine could be. These tanks collectively maintain 11 kilos of hydrogen at 10,000 psi, an quantity that takes 5 minutes to completely refuel. That will be hydrogen’s most important benefit, apart from weight and sourcing battery supplies, over an EV. As an alternative of sitting in a Walmart parking zone for a half-hour (in the event you’re fortunate) or dwelling someplace that has entry to a plug or charger, you’ll be able to pop right into a gasoline station simply as you do with a daily engine.
Oh, and yet one more benefit: price. Homeowners of each the Mirai and Hyundai Nexo get $15,000 price of hydrogen over the course of a three-year lease or six-year possession interval. On the present hydrogen value I noticed at True Zero station ($36 per kilogram), you’d theoretically be getting 83 tanks of gasoline included.
OK, so how far does a “tank” get you? The Mirai Restricted trim I drove is sweet for 357 miles of vary with full tanks (the XLE can do 402). So, utilizing primary math, you can theoretically get about 30,000 miles price of free gasoline earlier than it will get $LOL to refill. Actually, the lease possibility is the higher deal.
Once more, although, theoretically. I began my time with the Mirai with solely 241 miles. You see, I really reside 4.4 miles and 6 minutes away from the Thousand Oaks True Zero hydrogen refueling station, which was why I felt assured in signing up for per week within the Mirai within the first place. Sadly, earlier than the automobile arrived, the third-party firm that handles press automobile loans knowledgeable me that the True Zero station was not functioning. Neither was a distinct hydrogen station situated en path to me in Sherman Oaks. They’d need to fill the automobile close to their workplace, additionally in Lengthy Seashore, and ship it lower than full. It have to be mentioned that I ought to’ve had much more than simply 241 miles of vary. In accordance with my algebra, that quantity of vary ought to’ve been the equal of 67% full, however the gasoline gauge was barely beneath full. Clearly, the automobile wasn’t getting wherever near no matter gasoline financial system determines that official vary. Or there’s one thing improper with the gasoline gauge. In order that’s one other drawback.
Nonetheless, 241 miles remains to be higher than numerous EVs, and it shouldn’t have been a difficulty for me to do my mountain drive and head on right down to LAX and Lengthy Seashore the place a fast search revealed a number of filling stations, together with the one utilized by the automobile drop-off of us. Theoretically.
After the LAX drop-off, I made the short, 1.5-mile drive to a Clear Power station that has a complete heap of pure gasoline pumps and one hydrogen pump. Too dangerous, it had yellow tape on it. OK, in order that’s now three hydrogen stations alongside my route out of order. I didn’t must refuel, however I had the time earlier than the studio sneak peak, so what the hell?
The subsequent location I attempted, pictured beneath, was a Shell station totally devoted to hydrogen in Torrance, which not coincidentally is the American house of Honda and the previous house of Toyota. All 4 pumps there have been cordoned off with yellow tape, their covers pried off, and a piece crew doing one thing to repair the state of affairs. Whereas I parked to see the place else I may go, a pleasant worker of the station and/or Shell was very apologetic and defined that though this station had been operating with out situation, the previous yr has seen a number of breakdowns compounded by components shortages which have made repairs troublesome. One may think those self same points are impacting all the opposite stations.
My subsequent try was 9 miles away at a single True Zero pump situated inside a better Arco and am/pm station (pictured on the prime of this web page). There was no yellow tape on this one and the display was lit up, asking me to insert a bank card to start simply as you’ll at any gasoline pump. As I don’t personal the automobile, I’d need to pay. How a lot? Don’t know. Once I inserted my bank card, completely nothing occurred. The display remained precisely the identical. I attempted one other bank card, nothing. I pressed some buttons, nothing. I went contained in the am/pm to ask if the True Zero pump was functioning and the worker responded that it’s operated by a distinct firm and he or she has no thought. Strike 5!
I had now seemingly exhausted all of the stations alongside my route, so I known as off the search. I may nonetheless get again house and there theoretically would’ve been sufficient hydrogen left for the press mortgage of us to choose it up and take it again to Lengthy Seashore. Theoretically. Positive, there may’ve been sufficient hydrogen left, however I’d’ve stored the automobile parked for the next four-plus days to make sure that remained the case. I had already carried out my take a look at drive, already skilled the automobile’s high-quality however surprisingly cramped inside, already cursed Toyota’s new infotainment system for the umpteenth time, and most significantly, skilled what it was wish to refuel a hydrogen-powered automobile. Or somewhat, found that I couldn’t. What else was there to find?
Fortunately for me, I didn’t really personal this automobile. As I used to be already in Lengthy Seashore for the studio sneak peak, I organized to drop off the Mirai on the press mortgage of us’ workplace and commerce into actually something not powered by hydrogen I may additionally evaluation. (That is what I obtained, ‘twas an excellent commerce). No extra drama or anxiousness needed to be skilled on my own or the press mortgage of us.
However what if I really owned this automobile? I’d’ve been freaking out, hoping that the native True Zero would quickly be operational once more. But when not, then what? As a lot as naysayers level to the vary anxiousness of EVs, no less than you’ll be able to plug in to any previous electrical outlet and finally get sufficient juice at house or to get house. Hydrogen? Ha, good luck with that.
Hopefully, the causes of all 5 outages, associated or not, are ironed out in order that precise hydrogen gasoline cell house owners can use their automobiles. Certainly, I ventured over to the native True Zero station a couple of weeks later and it did appear to be working once more after I popped my bank card in to start out the method. Maybe this was all only a coincidence, a case of very dangerous luck on my half (and anybody else attempting to refill their automobile that day). In that case, and the variety of stations grows, hydrogen gasoline cell automobiles may in reality be a extra viable emission-free transportation alternative than electrical autos for individuals who reside in residences or condominiums the place house charging is unimaginable or infeasible. You simply want stations to make them work and for the stations themselves to work.
After all, none of this refueling debacle touches on the problems surrounding the place that hydrogen comes from within the first place. As many of the gaseous hydrogen in our photo voltaic system is situated within the solar and Jupiter, we’ve to separate it away from one other chemical compound. The overwhelming majority comes from compressed pure gasoline, aka methane, which is a fossil gasoline. D’oh! This could be what is called “grey” or “blue” hydrogen, and positively not emission-free. What you really need is “inexperienced” hydrogen, which makes use of water, however even then you definitely’re utilizing an enormous quantity of energy to separate water molecules to make hydrogen so you’ll be able to then fuse it again along with oxygen to create energy and water. That is sensible?
So yeah, you thought electrical automobile charging was fraught? Nonetheless, could possibly be worse.