The 2023 Toyota Mirai is one of only two publicly available hydrogen-powered cars and even as a regular midsize sedan, it's fairly impressive. But the Mirai represents a commitment even more than it does a car. The asking price is substantial, and hydrogen fueling stations are few and far between.

At the core of Mirai, hydrogen from the fuel tank and air entering from the intake grille meet in the Fuel Cell Stack. There, a chemical reaction involving the oxygen in the air and hydrogen creates electricity - powering Mirai. In the end, the only by-product is water.

Overview. As an electric car that runs off hydrogen, the 2023 Toyota Mirai is a niche car within a niche segment. Its handsome design and luxurious cabin are as unexpected as its fuel-cell powertrain, which produces 182 horsepower and can motor on for more than 400 miles before needing a refill of hydrogen.

Mirai runs on hydrogen, and its only by-product is water. When you start the car, hydrogen travels to the Fuel Cell Stack, where it combines with oxygen from the outside air to create electricity.

Fuel cell cars are powered by compressed hydrogen gas that feeds into an onboard fuel cell stack that doesn't burn the gas, but instead transforms the fuel's chemical energy into electrical energy. This electricity then powers the car's electric motors.

The 2023 Toyota Mirai expresses the advanced future of style, space, technology, and driving fun – while its hydrogen fuel cell electric powertrain produces no emissions beyond water.

Today, almost all the hydrogen produced in the United States is used for refining petroleum, treating metals, producing fertilizer, and processing foods.

Hydrogen fuel cells produce electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen atoms. The hydrogen reacts with oxygen across an electrochemical cell - similar to a battery - to produce electricity, water, and small amounts of heat.

Hydrogen fuel cell cars are quiet, very energy efficient, produce no emissions and have equivalent range and performance to gasoline counterparts. Drivers identify range, refueling time, emissions, power and performance as valuable vehicle characteristics.

Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are powered by hydrogen. They are more efficient than conventional internal combustion engine vehicles and produce no harmful tailpipe emissions - they only emit water vapor and warm air.

Hydrogen can be used in fuel cells to generate power using a chemical reaction rather than combustion, producing only water and heat as byproducts.

Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are powered by hydrogen. They are more efficient than conventional internal combustion engine vehicles and produce no harmful tailpipe emissions - they only emit water vapor and warm air. FCEVs and the hydrogen infrastructure to fuel them are in the early stages of implementation.