[arungeorge]

Saw this news in a Malayalam daily. As per the reports, test car have reached Bangalore Toyota center. Report also mentioned that Kerala govt authorities are in talk with Toyota to test the car in Kerala roads.



Source.

[DicKy]

Hydrogen to be supplied via ports in Azheekal, Kochi, Kollam and Vizhinjam(Thiruvananthapuram).

Will be dispensed from there. Also read that to lower costs, there maybe some technology transfer, though I feel that's just Babu talk BS.

Looks like Toyota is really desperate to make the Mirai work, would suit well that the densely urban Kerala market would worry less about range and more about cheaper running costs.

[Storm2.0]

if Toyota brings this wierd looking thing to India then I'm sure Hyundai may definitely end up bringing here the odd looking Verna facelift it unveiled in China.

[libranof1987]

Didn't the industry and the market move on from hydrogen fuel cell cars a while ago? When the entire world is talking about EVs and Hybrids, I'm surprised Toyota is bothering themselves bringing the Mirai to India, a country with no infrastructure for hydrogen fuel.

To put things into perspective further, the Mirai costs $58000 in the US; and only about 5k have been sold in that country. Imagine how dismal the figures will be in India.

What is Toyota thinking?!

[Reinhard]

If they work out a long term deal of sorts with the government for infrastructure setup - it will be a good initiative. That will create new technology R&D center here for hydrogen fuel related setup also. With fossil fuels appraaching end in some decades, starting to convert some large fuel bunks into Hydrogen stations might be a good POC pilot right now. Hydrogen actually gives the real practical alternative to fossil fuels in a "fill it & move on" mode rather than the "park for 2 hours to charge" limitation on EVs. Hydrogen would be the cleanest fuel of course - creating just water vapour.

This testing by Toyota mostly won't result into an actual car hitting our streets for customers. But most importantly - it means such R&D is coming to our country from Japan & is an excellent opportunity for our engineers, young budding scientists and technicians to get hands-on experience with such machinery. Let's look at it in a holistic way rather than just wondering if bringing Hydrogen cars & their costing is practical for us right now as an alternative.

[srini1785]

Originally Posted by Reinhard

If they work out a long term deal of sorts with the government for infrastructure setup - it will be a good initiative. That will create new technology R&D center here for hydrogen fuel related setup also. With fossil fuels appraaching end in some decades, starting to convert some large fuel bunks into Hydrogen stations might be a good POC pilot right now. Hydrogen actually gives the real practical alternative to fossil fuels in a "fill it & move on" mode rather than the "park for 2 hours to charge" limitation on EVs. Hydrogen would be the cleanest fuel of course - creating just water vapour.

True. However, Hydrogen is the most dangerous gas to handle. Nascent hydrogen combines with oxygen explosively to form water. It needs very low energy for ignition. The problem with hydrogen fuel is that it wont be as easy to handle like say petrol or diesel. Then again, considering the limitation of EV's in terms of range and charging times, toyota may be re thinking their strategies. It must also be noted that Scandinavian countries are already running hydrogen powered cars (Volvo?) and it seems ok.

[Reinhard]

Originally Posted by srini1785

True. However, Hydrogen is the most dangerous gas to handle. Nascent hydrogen combines with oxygen explosively to form water. It needs very low energy for ignition. The problem with hydrogen fuel is that it wont be as easy to handle like say petrol or diesel.

Indeed. Our record of handling inflammable items isn't that great. Every other day we have fires or small explosions in fuel stations somewhere in the country caused by accidents / mis-handling / faulty or old equipment. These happening in a facility storing hydrogen or with poorly maintained cars will leave ISRO redundant & common Indians will send things to the orbit, Moon, Mars!

[Sankar]

At the most what will happen is Toyota might give one or two Mirai which will replace some minister's Crysta, temporarily. Apart from this nothing is going to happen.

If the state Govt is serious about Zero emission vehicles (which I doubt, they are just latching on to the bandwagon to look good) why not talk to a) Hyundai who has put a proper EV on the road or b) MG for they will be out with their eZS soon or c) BYD who has leased their Electric buses to State Transport Department and work on setting up a proper battery EV infra in place. Battery EVs are more accessible, practical and cheaper unlike expensive hydrogen fuel cell EVs.

And what is Toyota thinking? Look at the numbers of Teslas and other battery EVs sold in USofA and tally their numbers against the number of Mirai's on US roads. Only advantage of FCEV is their ability for quick(er) refuleing but when battery technology take the next big leap (graphene?) that advantage of FCEV will be lost.

And asking Toyota to share their fuel cell tech with public sector companies remind me of this...



Btw three cheers to Tamilnadu for rolling out their new EV policy which should promote EV penetration in the state.

[GTO]

For those who want to know more about the car & the tech, be sure to check out Bblost's excellent thread at this link (Japan Report: Toyota Mirai Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car, and Toyota's Safety Technology).

IMHO, hydrogen isn't for India. Period. It's had no takers, despite more support in the USA and stubbornness from Toyota / Honda.

Originally Posted by arungeorge

Saw this news in a Malayalam daily. As per the reports, test car have reached Bangalore Toyota center.

How reliable is this publication? Asking because nothing in the picture suggests its from India:

- No number plate.

- The car parked next to it is a 2-door (again, non-Indian).

- The background & shutters aren't typical of what we see in India either.

[ChiragM]

Originally Posted by GTO

How reliable is this publication? Asking because nothing in the picture suggests its from India:

- No number plate.

- The car parked next to it is a 2-door (again, non-Indian).

- The background & shutters aren't typical of what we see in India either.

The car parked next to it is a Toyota IQ. I saw a few IQs parked inside the Toyota plant premises when I visited the plant. Unfortunately, I could not get any pics then.

Unsure about the background as the reports suggests that the car is in the plant premises.

Originally Posted by libranof1987

Didn't the industry and the market move on from hydrogen fuel cell cars a while ago?

Not exactly. Hyundai is planning to launch the Nexo here and Lexus is testing the LS fuel cell car.

[RobC]

Originally Posted by GTO

For those who want to know more about the car & the tech, be sure to check out Bblost's excellent thread at this link (Japan Report: Toyota Mirai Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car, and Toyota's Safety Technology).

IMHO, hydrogen isn't for India. Period. It's had no takers, despite more support in the USA and stubbornness from Toyota / Honda.



How reliable is this publication? Asking because nothing in the picture suggests its from India:

- No number plate.

- The car parked next to it is a 2-door (again, non-Indian).

- The background & shutters aren't typical of what we see in India either.

It is the online portal of Malayala Manorama - the largest non-Hindi newspaper in circulation. So reliable and reputable.

The article only mentions that Principal Secretary of Transport - Kerala, had a test drive of the vehicle in Bangalore and held discussions regarding technology transfer to enable manufacture of components in Public sector companies, with a view to reduce cost and make the vehicle more affordable, should it be released.

More speculative than actual progress, it would seem. The article also does not claim the image to be that of the vehicle at Bangalore.

[Vmv]

Just earlier this month, Toyota Kirloskar Motor's intention to import the Toyota Mirai for conducting feasibility study was revealed. Now, it has come to light that the Toyota Mirai has been imported to India. It has been brought to TKM's Bengaluru plant, where recently it was test-driven by K R Jyothilal, Principal Secretary, Transport (Kerala).

Kerala has already sought the required permission from Union Ministry of Surface Transport to lawfully commence testing of the Toyota Mirai. Also, the state is in discussion with BPCL's Cochin refinery for the supply of Hydrogen at various locations including Kochi, Kollam, Azheekal, Vizhinjam ports.

Mirai is the only FCV present in the Toyota's line-up. The unit imported to the Indian shores for the feasibility study is the first-gen model which is almost 5 years old now. It will be replaced by the next-gen model in two years from now. Toyota might introduce the second-gen Mirai in India directly if the country proves to be suitable for FCVs, but considering its exorbitant costing, chances are slim. India is yet to have even a proper EV charging infrastructure, let alone hydrogen fuel stations.

Source :IOBhttps://m.indianautosblog.com/toyota...kerala-p318447

[volkman10]

Originally Posted by GTO

--
- The background & shutters aren't typical of what we see in India either.

Looks to be taken in India,




Link

[ask_017]

Originally Posted by volkman10

Looks to be taken in India,

Attachment 1915677


Link

The guy in the picture seems to be KR Jyothilal Principal Secretary, Transport (Kerala). The Indian Autos Blog article states that he has test driven the car at TKM's Bengaluru Plant.

[Reinhard]

For its overall dimensions (and length especially) doesn't this car have a remarkably short wheelbase? Overhangs are so prominant that it will probably never be able to be driven on our moto-cross roads unless fron't bumper and lighting is removed altogether. Thats why perhaps they haven't bothered registering it at all.