Toyota Mirai Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Available in B.C. in July

Toyota Canada announced that the Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle will be available for purchase by fleet operators starting in July.

The Mirai, Japanese for “future”, is a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) that’s powered by hydrogen. It uses no fossil fuels and emits only water vapour. It has comparable performance to internal combustion engines and has a 500-kilometre range. It refuels in about five minutes. The range and fast-charging mean that the Mirai can be driven without altering driving or fueling habits.

The Toyota Mirai qualifies for a rebate of up to $6,000 under the provincial government’s Clean Energy Vehicle (CEV for BC) program.

The first series of Mirai hit roads in Quebec earlier this year making Toyota the first automaker to bring hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) to Canada en masse. The company has been working with other hydrogen stakeholders across Canada to put in place the necessary fueling infrastructure, training and service to support the sale of FCEVs.

The country’s first publicly accessible retail hydrogen station has been up and running in Vancouver for about a year with another poised to open in Burnaby. Natural Resources Canada and the B.C. government announced they are contributing a combined $3 million to build two new retail hydrogen refuelling stations in the province’s Lower Mainland, and it is expected that Greater Vancouver and Victoria will soon have a network of six stations.

Electrified vehicles will be a huge part of Toyota’s mandate going forward. By 2025, every Toyota and Lexus model globally will be a dedicated electrified model or have an electrified option. By 2030, 50 percent of Toyota’s global sales, or roughly 5.5 million vehicles per year, will be electrified. One million of those will be ZEVs according to the company.