1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Toyota Mirai receives the Environmental Award of the year in Austria

Discussion in 'Fuel Cell Vehicles' started by usbseawolf2000, Nov 10, 2015.

  1. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2004
    14,487
    2,994
    0
    Location:
    Fort Lee, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    [​IMG]

    Vienna, Austria- November 5th
    - The Austrian automobile club ARBÖ* (Auto-Motor und Radfahrerverbund Österreiche) has awarded the Toyota Mirai with the “2015 Environmental Award”.

    This Award was received during a gala ceremony held yesterday in Vienna, where the Toyota Mirai was awarded in the category of “Current Innovative Environmental Technologies” . The jury consisted of ARBÖ automotive experts.

    Gerald Killmann, Vice President R&D of Toyota Motor Europe, commented “We would like to express our thanks to ARBÖ for having awarded the Toyota Mirai with this prestigious prize. If we want to secure the future of the automobile as flexible, personal and clean transport for the next 100 years, we need to consider which energy can power our cars tomorrow. At Toyota, we believe that various technologies will co-exist, ranging from EVs to hybrids to the most innovative of all, the fuel cell car. Mirai is a core component of Toyota’s vision for a sustainable mobility society, one that allows us all to move freely in comfort and safety in an environmentally friendly, sustainable manner.”

    Dr. Friedrich Frey, CEO of Toyota Frey Austria completed: “We hope that in a couple of years, hydrogen stations will be available in Austria, so that we can start importing those cars.”

    With a focus on the next 100 years of automobiles, Toyota has proceeded with the development of a vehicle that offers a new, unique value. The Mirai is a pioneering vehicle that will contribute to a hydrogen energy society. In addition to its superior fuel cell technology and environmental performance, the Mirai is fun to drive, has a futuristic design that clearly marks it as an FCV, and offers a quiet and comfortable ride.

    Back in 1999, the first Toyota Prius was already awarded with the Environmental Award by ARBÖ for its pioneering hybrid technology, followed by the innovative Prius- Plug- in Hybrid in 2012.

    http://newsroom.toyota.eu/newsrelease.do?&id=4748&mid=1

    [​IMG]
     
    dbcassidy likes this.
  2. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    21,590
    11,212
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    I thought Toyota wasn't after trophies.
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i guess the aaa is just trying to appease the government.
     
    usbseawolf2000 likes this.
  4. Zythryn

    Zythryn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2008
    6,153
    4,144
    1
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    Nice to hear at least one of the Toyota executives state EVs are a part of the future.
     
  5. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2004
    14,487
    2,994
    0
    Location:
    Fort Lee, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    +1

    I laughed so hard.
    Always has been. They are for short distance vehicles only.
     
    dbcassidy and bisco like this.
  6. Pale Fox

    Pale Fox New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2015
    26
    20
    6
    Location:
    Austria, Europe
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    In Austria we have 2 public Hydrogen fuel stations, both operated by OMV.
    The company OMV wants to be a first mover in providing both infrastructure for H2 fuels stations as well as H2 as fuel itself.

    The EU supports the demonstration project "HyFIVE" (Hydrogen For Innovativ Vehicles) - HyFIVE PROJECT

    So technically Austria is ready to drive the Mirai :coffee:

    Cheers, Pale Fox
     
  7. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    21,590
    11,212
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Why didn't they stick it out with the eQ then? It is the poster child of what Toyota means when they say short distance BEV.
     
    hill likes this.
  8. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2004
    14,487
    2,994
    0
    Location:
    Fort Lee, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I am guessing there is no market in the US. Inventives here are not driven by how clean or practical a plugin is, but rather depends on the battery size.

    That created uneven playing field.
     
    Pale Fox likes this.
  9. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2009
    5,596
    3,770
    0
    Location:
    So. Texas
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    usbseawolf2000 and Pale Fox like this.
  10. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    21,590
    11,212
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    The entire point of the incentive was to help with battery development and cost.
    http://priuschat.com/threads/alternative-fuel-incentives-discussion.152081/

    With a top speed of 38mph, the Toyota COMS is faster than the GEM. Though the GEM does seat at least two, was first available 1998, and the latest two seater can have a range nearly three times that of the COMS. I'll opt for the COMS, and its single seat, over the Xebra though.

    Toyota COMS Electric Vehicle One Sexy Golf Cart | EarthTechling
    Battery Range - Charging Options | Polaris GEM Vehicles
     
  11. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2013
    5,884
    3,486
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Postive Article, I hope to see more positive appreciation of the Mirai, rather then negative sayers, of this exciting tech. (no pun intended)
     
  12. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2009
    6,722
    2,120
    45
    Location:
    North Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Remind me how long it takes a FCV to fill up? and how many cars can a hydrogen pump fill in an hour? And I mean a hydrogen pump on the market today (not vapour ware).

    The new 100kw chademo chargers that are appearing here can charge a suitable car (Soul EV, new 30kwh Leaf) in 10 minutes.

    Governments only like hydrogen as it's something they can tax.
     
    #12 GrumpyCabbie, Nov 12, 2015
    Last edited: Nov 12, 2015
    finman likes this.
  13. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2013
    5,884
    3,486
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Well what happen with being positive ;)
    Toyota says less then 5 minutes to fill a tank. Hydrogen pump can only fill one car at a time. :eek:
     
  14. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2009
    6,722
    2,120
    45
    Location:
    North Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Damn speech recognition. How many cars can a hydrogen pump fill in an hour is what I mean lol. edited my original post.
     
  15. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2013
    5,884
    3,486
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Technology! I hope EVs don't have glitches! :)

    Don't have any bloody clue on how many cars can be filled in one hour. But, probably more cars can be filled then EVs can be charged on one charger in an hour. ;)
     
  16. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2004
    12,747
    5,243
    57
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    We've been pointing out the co-exist for awhile now. Some people just didn't like the schedule, despite the fact that market realities alter plans along the way. It's the same end-state regardless. No one technology/implementation can serve everyone.
     
  17. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2009
    13,525
    4,057
    0
    Location:
    Austin, TX, USA
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    A 4 slot super charger can service about 4 cars an hour, 100 cars a day depending on how much they fill. In higher traffic areas they add more slots or higher power.

    The highest hydrogen throughput station becing built in california can service 350 kg/day and 2 cars at once, about 90 vehicles a day. These are all demo stations. They likely will be upgraded if higher volume is needed. Out of the first 57 there are only 7 of these higher throughput stations. The rest are between 25kg-200kg/day. The 25kg stations take about 30 minutes to be ready for the next car. I hope we stop building those.
     
    #17 austingreen, Nov 12, 2015
    Last edited: Nov 12, 2015
    GrumpyCabbie likes this.
  18. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    21,590
    11,212
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    The best stations being built in California are Type A that prechill to -40C. Their nominal fill time is 7 minutes for 4 to 5 kilograms. Three minutes is possible under the right conditions, but so is 15 minutes.

    Transferring gases is no where near as simple as transferring liquids. In the latter case, you just turn on the pump and go. For the former, you have to account for pressure and the temperature changes that go along with it. Which is a big deal for hydrogen, because it will ignite if the compressing heats it up too much. So a hydrogen station compresses the gas into a tank to a higher pressure than the car's tanks. This tank is chilled to keep the heat build up from slowing the compression process.

    Everything is dandy for the first car to fill from this tank when it is full. After that first car, the pressure has dropped in the tank, and it will tank the compressor time to refill it. If it arrives during that time, the second car won't fill as fast as the first one. During a rush of customers, which is a common occurence for a gas station, that tank can get drained to the point where it will 15 minutes or longer to fill a car. Assuming the equipment can still fill cars when the tank is empty.

    That is only when the fill tank starts full and cold. If not, the hydrogen will have a bottleneck of customers as the tank recharges.

    I don't exactly how long it will take for any given station to recharge that tank, so cars per hour for a station isn't something easy to come by. The stations are rated by kilograms of hydrogen per day in the case of those making hydrogen on site. The biggest might do 50kg, which means they could fill a dozen cars over a 10hr day.

    A station supplied hydrogen from off site might be able to fill 100 cars per day. Most of these stations only have 4 pumps. So while they can fill more cars compared to an equal number of chargers, the chargers cost a lot less to install, and there will be more of them for the same investment.

    High end, a Supercharger costs Tesla $60k. Locations have 8 chargers normally. We'll round up to $500k total. Low end, a hydrogen station was suppose to only cost $1mil for 4 pumps. It's more, but we'll use it. Using a nominal fill time of 7 minutes, that station could fill 34.3 cars in an hour. If we ignore the fact that the fill tank would be losing enough pressure over that time period to push fill times into the fast charger range. Considering the stations are measured in kilograms or cars per day, it is very unlikely that the pumps could keep up with that many cars coming through at once.

    For a $1mil, we can install at least 16 Superchargers. They can charge 16 to 24 cars in an hour depending on how much charge the cars take. While less than our ideal, doesn't exist, hydrogen station, that number can be sustained for every hour of the day. So they can easily 2 to 3 times the cars in the day that our best hydrogen stations can do.
     
    finman and GrumpyCabbie like this.
  19. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2009
    6,722
    2,120
    45
    Location:
    North Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I heard it was something like that, hence I asked :whistle:

    So other than if you're one of the first couple customers, hydrogen could be a real slow experience. Doesn't say that in the marketing.

    And it's expensive to install. But hey, it's the future init. :giggle:
     
  20. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2009
    13,525
    4,057
    0
    Location:
    Austin, TX, USA
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    In 50 of the first 57 stations planned in california, if you are the 3rd car to arrive its going to take awhile. If you are the 50th to arrive that day, you better find another stations because they probably won't have hydrogen for hours or until tomorrow. These aren't technical challenges, but problems with claiming you can build stations without very high government subsidies. You could for instance put three of the linde fuelers and 3 pumps and 6 nozzles in a station and get 1050 kg/day, similar to a gas station. This would probably have 1 large low pressure stainless tank, and 3 of the higher pressure chilled tanks, one for each pump. then you could fill the larger low pressure tank with trucked in hydrogen when it needed it, while the 3 pumps each kept pumping from their high pressure tanks. But they want to pretend these things are cheaper than they are, so smaller capacity it is.