Hydrogen Fuel Cells: Fuel of the Future

As climate change continues to tighten its grip on the atmosphere and global environment, humanity has been looking for multi-faceted solutions. From cleaning up ecosystems to conserving essential resources, there’s nothing we won’t try to increase the longevity of our home. The automotive industry is no exception. Greener technology and better fuel sources are currently being researched by auto manufacturers around the world and Toyota has been taking an unconventional approach, hydrogen fuel cell technology. While not widely available as of yet, this Toyota technology is paving the way for a renewable future using a resource and engineering that produces no emissions and provides ample power to maintain the capability of your favorite Toyota vehicle. If you’re interested in helping mother nature, check out the details on this technology from Toyota of N Charlotte.

What is Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology?

When it comes to a green driving experience drivers have a number of choices that all provide great benefits and help the environment. While Toyota offers several N Charlotte hybrid options, hydrogen fuel cell technology is all-new and, while it’s not quite available at our dealership, it’s making waves in the automotive industry. Currently, this technology is offered in the Toyota Mirai and hydrogen fueling stations are limited to the west coast, but Toyota is hoping to bring this technology to more areas, like N Charlotte, in the coming years. Here are a few of the key benefits to driving with hydrogen fuel cell technology vehicles:

• Hydrogen fuel cell technology is similar to using an electric powered engine or motor. However, you don’t have to plug in a hydrogen powered vehicle, you refuel it at a hydrogen station, much like a vehicle with an internal combustion engine. At most fuel pumps, it only takes about five minutes to completely refuel your vehicle, much shorter than an electric engine, and a vehicle like the N Charlotte Toyota Mirai gets an EPA estimated 312-mile driving range on a complete fuel.
• Hydrogen is one of the most abundant elements on Earth and can be harnessed using a variety of methods. Depending on the way it was cultivated, hydrogen can be produced, harnessed in a fuel cell, and used with almost if not any pollution byproduct. In fact, the N Charlotte Toyota Mirai only expels water as a byproduct.
• Hydrogen fuel cell car engines are surprisingly simple and use a fuel cells and stacks rather than a huge amount of moving parts like an internal combustion engine does. That means no oil changes and fluid checks!
• Hydrogen based engines can travel farther than a N Charlotte Toyota internal combustion engine vehicles on a full fuel tank while only using half the amount of hydrogen when compared to the amount of gasoline a typical vehicles uses.

While it will be some time before you see a vehicle like the Toyota Mirai makes its way to Toyota of N Charlotte, we’re sure that hydrogen fuel cell technology will make its way to the east coast, given time. Toyota plans on mass producing vehicles using this technology and making them more accessible to people by the 2020s.

If you want to know more about hydrogen fuel cell technology and how it works, give Toyota of N Charlotte a call at (704) 875 – 9199.