I purchased a used 2017 Toyota Mirai 2 years ago, and I noticed there is a sticker on the fuel door saying do not refuel after 4/2032. I was wondering what will happen to my car after this date? Will I still be able to get fuel? Do I need to get new fuel tanks? I am honestly wondering what all FCEVs will do after 15 years. And are other fuel cell cars like this too? Thank You -David
what will happen to my car after this date?
The fuel tank needs to be hydro-statically tested and re-certified, just like any pressurized vessel (SCUBA tanks, fire extinguishers, etc.)
Can you share a picture with us?
here you go ... all over the internet
(ignore the comments from juvenile twit)
https://twitter.com/jefftutorials/status/1377719765888811011
I like the car, but yes the fueling and lines can be stressful, a lot of stations have just one pump, so one car at a time. I wouldn't call them 'fool cells' because its great tech, but its the infrastructure that lets hydrogen down, and theres not enough funding for it at this time.
like I said, the commenter is the fool. Infrastructure is the Achilles heel of HFC cars at the moment, but it will grow eventually. Line-ups at EV charging stations are insane as well, but at least you won't be hampered by power shortages like EV recently have, and I trust Toyotas a lot more than Tesla. I would love to hear more about your car ...
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How long have you had it? Do you own, or is it a mandatory lease? How has maintenance been? Cost per 1,000 miles? Any chance you could bring it to Scotty?
The car has been reliable, never broke down or had a check engine light during my ownership, from 30k to 60k miles. Range is far lower than EPA estimates, by almost 90-100 miles. Cost to fill up $125, and car would show a range between 220-230 miles.
“Infrastructure is the Achilles heel of HFC cars at the moment, but it will grow eventually.”
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I won’t hold my breath on that. For better or for worse, it seems EVs will be here to stay.
@daywalker not if they keep having power shortages, or China reduces mineral supply, or electricity prices go up. There's no reason we can't have both.
I agree, but it seems the politicians and manufacturers are focusing or putting their eggs in the EV basket, which is foolish.
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I like Toyota’s approach: hybrid, hydrogen, and EV.
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Unfortunately, at least in my home state of California consumers seem to be drinking the EV Kool-aid based on Model Y and Model 3 being the top selling new cars (in their segments) in 2022.
Cost to fill up $125, and car would show a range between 220-230 miles.
what???
So it's costing you about $0.50 per mile?
A 2.0L Accord right now costs about $0.13 per mile.
Why would anybody want to get a Mirai?
Even my big gas guzzling V8 truck costs $0.36 to the mile
They give you free fuel for first 3 years or $15,000 with purchase of certified pre owned. My fuel card will expire soon and I will be getting another car to save on fuel.
And in addition to tank replacement... there's also a 1.6 kWh battery in there
Wow.
- High initial cost.
- Shockingly bad cost per mile.
- Astronomic long term cost of ownership.
- Finding service is likely problematic.
- The fact that it's basically scrap metal after 15 years means it won't hold its value AT ALL.
So basically, there is no sane reason to buy one of these. 😬
Exactly!
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I will stick with ICE, thank you very much.
Yep! what a horrid car!
I am still not sure what Toyota wants me to do with the car when the tanks expire (15 year lifespan) I might just be able to keep driving the car and getting gas similar to older CNG cars... 😑
Molecules of hydrogen gas are extremely small. Smaller than any other gas in fact (Hydrogen: element #1 on periodic table). The concern is that hydrogen is very difficult to contain, and that the tanks eventually start to leak.
Whoa!!! This is very interesting. Can you share a picture with us?
This is another reason I plan to stay with ICE for as long as I can.
This is another reason I plan to stay with ICE for as long as I can.
Same here. I'm pretty sure that at my age (same as Scotty's) I will never own an electric, hydrogen, or even a hybrid car for the rest of my life. (It will not be possible to eliminate fossil fuels in my lifetime.)
And as it is I am not happy about the state of today’s ICE cars.
Agreed. I'll keep the oldies going as long as possible. Not to be morbid, but given my likely remaining lifetime I'm probably not going to have to deal with anything built much later than what I have now.
$125, and car would show a range between 220-230 miles
As @mmj pointed out that's ridiculous!
That's equivalent to 6.7 MPG.
On a $50,595 car, with only 182 hp, and that you can only use until 2032.
UPGRADING TO A HYBRID WILL SAVE YOU $61,760 OVER 10 YEARS OF AVERAGE DRIVING.
and you may recover some of that ridiculous $50k that pile of junk presumably costs.
are other fuel cell cars like this too?
The other ones are the dozen of Hyundai Nexo models on the road?
Read carefully. You can use it after 2032 if you get the tank tested.
@mmj I've read carefully, the manual - and Toyota states otherwise.
We do not know if the car will disable it self when the tanks are expired.
https://imgur.com/a/WiZQIog
And in addition to tank replacement / if it doesn't disable the car and anyone are willing to perform an inspection, there's also a 1.6 kWh battery in there, and that's a large battery (more than 2x of the Prius!) and that will also cost $,$$$ when it fails at 12-15 years of age.