Nitin Gadkari unveils the Toyota Mirai, a hydrogen-powered electric vehicle.


Hydrogen-based advanced Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV): India's Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) Nitin Gadkari recently launched India's first green hydrogen-based advanced fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) called Toyota Mirai at New Delhi.

  • This is a first of its kind project in India which seeks to create a Green Hydrogen based ecosystem in the country and help India to become ‘Energy Self-reliant’ by 2047.

About the Toyota Mirai:

  • Toyota Mirai is the world’s most advanced technology-developed FCEV which is completely powered by Hydrogen.

Note: In Japanese, the word 'Mirai' means 'future'.

  • It is capable of providing a range up to 650 km in a single charge, with a refuelling time of five minutes.
  • This pilot project was initiated by Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) Pvt. Ltd and International Center for Automotive Technology (ICAT).
  • The project is conducting a pilot project to study and evaluate the world's most advanced FCEV Toyota Mirai, which runs on hydrogen, on Indian roads and climatic conditions.
  • The project's goal is to spread the knowledge about hydrogen and FCEV technology, as well as disseminate its benefits, in order to help India transition to a hydrogen-based society.

Background:

  • Toyota Mirai was launched in 2014.
  • It is one of the world’s first hydrogen fuel electric vehicles.

About FCEV:

  • Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) is powered by hydrogen.
  • It is environment-friendly, as it has zero tailpipe emissions.
  • Therefore, it is one of the best zero-emission solutions.

About Green hydrogen:

  • Green Hydrogen can be generated using renewable energy and abundantly available biomass through electrolysis.

Significance:

  • Introduction and adoption of technology to tap into the Green hydrogen’s potential will play a key role in securing a clean and affordable energy future for India.
  • Transportation powered by Green hydrogen is going to be a key technology option of the future with a significant application, especially across bigger cars, buses, trucks, ships and trains and best suited for medium to long distances.
  • Green Hydrogen offers huge opportunities to decarbonize a range of sectors including road transportation and is gaining unprecedented momentum globally.

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