TOYOTA Motor Company Australia (TMCA) has confirmed it is going to be bringing a small allocation of the hydrogen-powered Mirai sedan to Australia for “choose enterprise and authorities fleets”.
Attributable to arrive within the first quarter of subsequent 12 months, simply 20 of the next-generation fuel-cell electrical automobiles (FCEV) can be included within the first allocation, the arrival of which has been orchestrated to align with the anticipated commissioning of a solar-powered hydrogen manufacturing website and refuelling station at TMCA’s Centre of Excellence in Melbourne.
As beforehand reported by GoAuto, the manufacturing website was backed by a $3.1 million grant by the Australian Renewable Vitality Company (ARENA).
Attributable to be formally unveiled in Japan subsequent month, the brand new Mirai will reverse its predecessor’s front-wheel-drive configuration and as an alternative ship completely in rear-wheel-drive guise whereas additionally ushering in a heap of latest tech and styling.
With specifics and pricing but to be detailed, TMCA says the brand new mannequin will boast extra efficiency, better effectivity and extra space due to the “clever packaging” of three hydrogen tanks relatively than the earlier two.
In keeping with TMCA vice-president of gross sales and advertising and marketing Sean Hanley, the next-generation Mirai is the subsequent step in the direction of attaining ‘native acceptance’ of FCEVs following on from trials of the first-generation mannequin by councils and utilities corporations.
“Toyota is dedicated to accelerating the recognition and variety of electrified automobiles that cut back CO2 emissions and air air pollution,” he stated.
“The easiest way to show the long-term viability and environmental advantages of hydrogen-powered fuel-cell electrical automobiles is to provide automobiles to native industries and governments that share our imaginative and prescient of a zero-emission future.
“All-new Mirai brings collectively Toyota’s unrivalled expertise with electrified automobiles and our built-in strategy to an electrical future.
“EV applied sciences we have developed over greater than 20 years – together with batteries, motors and superior energy-management software program – are elementary to the manufacturing of many kinds of electrified automobiles, together with FCEVs.”
TMCA has commented beforehand about its intentions to introduce the next-generation Mirai by 2024 and the way it was anticipating an upswing within the recognition FCEVs and expertise.
The brand new hydrogen manufacturing facility was initially slated to be operational by the tip of 2020 and remains to be on observe to change into the primary FCEV fuelling website to run by itself renewable power and produce its personal hydrogen in Australia.
