TOKYO, Nov. 18 -- Japan's major automaker Toyota said Tuesday that its hydrogen-powered vehicle named "Mirai" will hit the Japanese market on Dec. 15, making it theworld's first seller of such fuel-cell vehicle (FCV) for general consumers.
"Mirai," which means "future" in English, will be sold at around 7,236,000 yen (about62,000 U.S. dollars), said the automaker, adding that it aims to sell about 400 unitsdomestically by the end of 2015. It also plans to usher the green car into U.S. andEuropean markets next summer.
The new generation of green car can drive up to 650 km on a single tank of hydrogen andemits only water vapor, according to Toyota, adding refueling only needs about threeminutes.
The four-door sedan uses a system that features both fuel-cell and hybrid technologies,and also includes Toyota's new proprietary fuel-cell stack and high-pressure hydrogentanks, the automaker said.
Toyota's President and CEO, Akio Toyoda, was quoted as saying in video message Mondayahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show that Mirai is a chance for Toyota to make afundamental difference in the auto industry.
The paradigm shift by bringing FCVs into the mainstream has been equated with the 1997launch of its then game-changing Prius hybrid by some industry experts.
"The four-door sedan represents a turning point for the automotive industry," said theCEO.
"All of us at Toyota believe in a future that will be safer, greener and easier for everyone,"Toyoda added.
