Find out about the first ecological vehicle that works with a hydrogen cell, only emits water vapor and has already been authorized to circulate in Chile

One of the priorities of this Government is to promote the introduction of vehicles that generate clean energy. Transport and Telecommunications Minister Juan Carlos Muñoz, Energy Minister Diego Pardow, Minister Secretary General of the Government Camila Vallejo, and the commercial director of Toyota Chile, Ignacio Funes, have therefore presented the first hydrogen-cell-powered car authorized to circulate in Chile. 

It is the first pilot plan for this type of vehicle to be carried out in Latin America. A total of three Mirai model cars entered the Vehicle Control and Certification Center (3CV) during the last week of November, prior to the exchange of technical information between Toyota and the Chilean evaluation body. 

The subsequent authorization puts our country at the forefront of zero-emission transport, given that there are already a range of electric vehicles approved to circulate. 

The newly authorized vehicle has an initial range of 400 kilometers, which is double that of a conventional electric vehicle. The model could reach a range of almost 700 kilometers (equivalent to a trip between the Metropolitan Region and Atacama) under certain technical conditions; however, because the vehicle is part of a pilot project for the Chilean market, it has been conditioned for a lower operational range. 

The car operates with a hydrogen-cell system, meaning that it is not charged through a traditional electrical connection. It requires a chemical reaction to occur between the hydrogen stored in the tank and the oxygen in the air. 

The Toyota Mirai therefore has three high-pressure hydrogen tanks placed in a “T” shape: a longer one that runs the length of the vehicle and two smaller ones located under the rear seats and the trunk. The advantage is that in approximately five minutes, 142 liters of hydrogen can be charged (or 5.6 kilograms at 700 bars), in the vehicle’s conventional version. 

The authorized pressure for the first approved model will be 150 bars. The second version approved at 700 bars will be released in 2024. 

Vehicle characteristics 

• It is the first hydrogen-cell vehicle approved in Chile. 
• The vehicle is the Toyota Mirai, which will circulate as a pilot, putting Chile at the forefront in the region. 
• Unlike an electric vehicle, it does not use a battery; it uses a hydrogen cell that generates electricity. 
• The cell has a useful life of more than 10 years. 
• While the battery in an electric car accumulates energy, the cell in a hydrogen car converts the gas into electrical energy. 
• The cell must be charged with hydrogen for it to work. 
• As part of the pilot plan, there will only be one place in Chile to charge the cell: at Toyota Chile. 
• The cell reaches full charge (5.6 kilos of hydrogen) in approximately 15 minutes at 700 bar pressure. 
• It has a range of 650 kilometers, according to the catalog. An electric car has a range of 200 kilometers. 
• A kilo of hydrogen costs on average around US$25. 
• It does not generate emissions, only water vapor. 
• Toyota’s decision to choose Chile is due to the strong rules and regulations the country has in terms of electromobility, in addition to a robust market.