Toyota Mirai Sets GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS with 1,360km Zero Emission Journey

The 2021 Toyota Mirai has officially set the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the longest distance by a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle without refueling. The Mirai achieved an unprecedented 1,360 km driven on a single, five-minute complete fill of hydrogen during a roundtrip tour of Southern California as it set the record.

Recently selected by Ward’s Automotive as a 10 Best Engine & Propulsion Systems winner, the Toyota Mirai’s record sets a new distance milestone for zero emission vehicles.

“In 2016, the Toyota Mirai was the first production fuel cell electric vehicle available for retail sale in North America, and now the next generation Mirai is setting distance records,” said Bob Carter, executive vice president, Toyota Motor North America. “We are proud to be leaders of this exciting technology, which is just one of a growing lineup of zero emission vehicles in our portfolio.”

The official record attempt was closely monitored by Guinness World Records, adhering to its strict rules and documentation procedures. On its efficiency-focused August 23 and 24 journey, the Mirai logged an impressive 1.55 Le/100 km with water as its only emission. GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS adjudicator, Michael Empric, validated the Mirai’s tank with a seal at both the beginning and end of the journey.

Driven by professional hypermiler, Wayne Gerdes and co-piloted by Bob Winger, the two-day trip began on Monday, August 23, 2021, at the Toyota Technical Center (TTC) in Gardena, California, home of Toyota’s fuel cell development group. The duo traveled south to San Ysidro and then north to Santa Barbara cruising through Santa Monica and Malibu beach along the Pacific Coast Highway. They returned to TTC that evening and logged 761 km with only two driver swaps that day.

The next day, August 24, 2021, consisted of more local driving loops, where they pushed through 599 km of morning and afternoon rush hour traffic on the San Diego freeway between Los Angeles and Orange County until the Mirai had no more hydrogen left and coasted into TTC with a grand total of 1,360 km driven, as witnessed by Empric.

“As a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS adjudicator for 10 years, I’ve had the opportunity to witness incredible attempts, including several distance-related feats,” said Empric. “The Toyota Mirai’s journey without the need to refuel showcases the power of fuel cell electric technology. This technology and the design ingenuity by the team at Toyota led to a history-making moment.”

By the end of the trip, the Mirai consumed a total of 5.65kg of hydrogen and passed a total of 12 hydrogen stations along the drive routes without refueling. The Mirai was driven mainly during rush hour traffic in temperatures between 18 and 28 degrees Celsius. It emitted zero kilograms of CO2, where a standard internal combustion engine vehicle would have emitted about 301 kg of CO2 over the same distance.

The landmark results were achieved by drivers skilled in hypermiling techniques that optimized the Mirai’s vehicle performance under specific weather and driving conditions. They also leveraged some basic fuel-efficient driving tips that any driver can practice.

MAINTENANCE & PREPARATION:

• Keep up on all scheduled maintenance. A poorly tuned engine will burn more fuel, which can impact fuel economy.

• Ensure proper wheel alignment.

• Check tire pressure, under-inflated tires can lower fuel economy.

• Remove cargo or cargo racks to reduce weight.

DRIVING TECHNIQUES:

• Avoid quick acceleration or heavy braking.

• Avoid driving at higher speeds.

• Minimize running mechanical and electrical accessories (i.e. air conditioner)

The confirmation of this record helps mark the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association’s 7^th Annual National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day (October 8).

About Toyota Mirai

The Toyota Mirai is the world’s first mass production hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle. One of many components of Toyota’s overall carbon reduction strategy, the hydrogen-powered, zero-emission Mirai fuels in approximately five minutes, offers up to 647 km of range and emits only water from its tailpipe.

The Toyota Mirai is currently on sale in Quebec.