Gadkari promotes Toyota Mirai hydrogen car in India

Nitin Gadkari, India's Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, frequently travels in the Toyota Mirai, a hydrogen fuel-cell car. He has also been seen with the Innova Flex Fuel vehicle. Gadkari promotes cleaner fuels and electric vehicles in India. The Toyota Mirai is part of a pilot project with Toyota Kirloskar Motor and the International Center for Automotive Technology. It aims to understand the effectiveness of fuel-cell technology in India. Despite tough weather and driving conditions, the Mirai is used to raise awareness about green hydrogen vehicles. The Mirai operates by combining hydrogen with oxygen in a fuel cell. This chemical reaction creates electricity to power the car. The only product released is water vapor, making it a zero-emission vehicle. It features a system to capture energy during braking, improving efficiency. Refueling the Mirai is similar to filling up conventional cars. Hydrogen is pumped into carbon-fiber tanks at high pressure. The Mirai can travel about 647 kilometers on a full tank, with refueling taking around five minutes. Indian Oil Corporation provides hydrogen for this project. Toyota ensures the safety of the Mirai's tanks, which can withstand crashes better than traditional steel tanks. In case of an accident, sensors stop the hydrogen flow, allowing any released gas to disperse safely. The vehicle can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 9.2 seconds. Although the Mirai is not officially sold in India, Toyota offers other hybrid cars like the Camry and Innova Hycross Hybrid.