Toyota Mirai Goes to Washington on Stage at the National Mall

Toyota Exclusive Automotive Partner of Earth Day 45^th Anniversary Celebration Mirai Display Kicks off Month of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Education

Toyota will display its hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle, the Mirai, in Washington, D.C. The Japanese automaker has cooperated with Earth Day Network to sponsor the Global Citizen 2015 Earth Day celebration, April 17, 18 and 19, featuring environmental voices, government leaders, star-studded performances and a Mirai activation.

The celebration marks the beginning of a month of fuel cell features and festivities for the company.

The same was done 15 years ago when Toyota showed its Prius hybrid.

“The Toyota Mirai represents a turning point in automotive history,” said Bob Carter, senior vice president, automotive operations, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. “After more than 20 years of research and development, we are excited to bring Mirai to American driveways. Earth Day 2015 is a great platform to educate the public about hydrogen fuel cell technology and the potential of hydrogen as a future fuel.”

The Mirai integrates hydrogen and oxygen to create electricity, which then powers the electric motor, with water vapor as the only emission. It is said that re-fueling will take about five minutes, and with full tank allows you to drive up to 300 miles. For many people This Earth Day celebration attendees this will be the first personal close look at the Mirai.

“Toyota has been a committed partner in creating solutions and momentum for a cleaner, better planet,” said Kathleen Rogers, president of Earth Day Network. “We are proud to help educate about the possibilities for fuel cell technology and advocate around a shared vision for the environment.”

Beyond the celebration on the National Mall, Toyota said that it will use month of April as the month to educate and engage customers about fuel cell technology and hydrogen power, including events in New York and Los Angeles, and digital activities to speak with skeptics and supporters alike.

 The Mirai will go on sale in California later this year as a 2016 model.

Mirai Drives Toyota to Fast Company's 'Most Innovative' List

Toyota has been named one of  world’s 50 Most famous Innovative Companies for 2015 by Fast Company magazine, recognizing the company’s leadership in the development and introduction of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

As Fast Company writes, “Toyota plans to do for fuel cells what its Prius did for hybrids: make them ubiquitous and top of mind for environmentally conscious consumers.” 

Fast Company also named Toyota as one of the most innovative companies in the auto sector, writing: “While other automakers are experimenting with fuel cells as niche vehicles, Toyota is the only one to engineer a global release, making all of its fuel-cell components in house.”
 

The full story appears in the magazine’s March 2015 issue, available now on Fast Company's  website and on newsstands February 17.