Toyota has launched the all-new Mirai in an extended demonstration program that will see 20 examples leased by pioneering organisations and businesses.
Toyota Australia Vice President Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations Sean Hanley said Toyota was a firm believer that hydrogen fuel cell technology could play a central role in reducing emissions and it was committed to helping drive towards a cleaner society.
“When we launched the Prius hybrid 20 years ago, we started a drive towards helping reduce emissions from our vehicles through a process of electrification,” Mr Hanley said.
“Today, we offer hybrid powertrains in seven vehicle lines and we have sold more than 200,000 Toyota hybrids over the past two decades.
“With the introduction of the zero-emission Mirai FCEV and its use by pioneering organisations, Toyota is continuing that journey as we aim to achieve zero emissions from our vehicles by 2050 under the global Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050,” he said.
The new Mirai is being offered on a 36 month/60,000km lease contract costing $1,750 per month for three years, which includes fuel.
The launch of the new Mirai follows a small-scale trial program that was initiated in 2018 with ten examples of the first generation Mirai.
Those trials were conducted in collaboration with local Melbourne councils and utility companies with the cars refuelled from a mobile hydrogen refueller.
The first trial partner was Hobson’s Bay City Council in Melbourne’s west, which used the three vehicles for council staff to carry out their work in the community with other organisations to trial the Mirai including energy companies AusNet Services and Mondo and Moreland City Council in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.
With the new generation Mirai launched in Japan late last year and the development of Victoria’s first permanent hydrogen production and refuelling facility at the Centre of Excellence in Altona, Toyota Australia has moved ahead with a larger demonstration program importing 20 examples of the new car.
The new Mirai is a sleek and stylish, five-seat, rear-drive four-door sedan that uses an advanced hydrogen fuel cell powertrain that generates zero carbon emissions.
The hydrogen is stored in three carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) tanks that have a combined capacity of 5.6kg giving the Mirai a range of approximately 650km.
Safety has also been a priority with the Mirai featuring the latest generation Toyota Safety Sense7 suite of driver assistance technologies including pre-collision system with day/night pedestrian and day cyclist detection, emergency steering assist, lane trace assist, lane departure alert, intersection turn assist, road sign assist (certain road signs), auto high beam and adaptive cruise control.
In addition to this, the new Mirai is also fitted with blind spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert, parking support brake, seven airbags and a panoramic view monitor to ensure excellent all round vision when parking.
