Editor’s PickEVsLow CarbonTop Stories

Californians get cracking deal on Hydrogen car

Toyota slashes 70% from the price of their hydrogen powered Mirai

Toyta is offering a 70% discount on its hydrogen powered Mirai to people in California, meaning a $50,000 motor is now just $15K!

It is trying to revive interest in hydrogen-powered vehicles by offering record-breaking discounts, the Mirai XLE model is available for as little as $15,190 (£12,150) down from $50,190—while the Limited trim sees a massive $43,000 price cut, bringing it to $24,115 (£19,300).

These discounts, coupled with 0% financing for six years and $15,000 worth of complimentary hydrogen fuel, make the Mirai one of the most affordable vehicles in the U.S.

Watch our Mirai test drive from our archives

Smart or desperate?

California is seen as the ‘greenest’ state with huge numbers adopting EVs and plenty of renewable energy plants and windfarms. However, hydrogen cars have not hit a chord with eco-conscious buyers.

Sales of hydrogen vehicles have plummeted, with just 441 units sold in the first nine months of 2024—an 84% drop compared to 2023.

Toyota’s aggressive pricing strategy aims to tackle this and the high barriers facing hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Hydrogen refuelling infrastructure is still sparse, with only about 50 stations statewide, primarily in Southern California.

Additionally, hydrogen fuel costs $14 (£11) per pound, translating to roughly $175 (£140) per tank after Toyota’s free fuel incentive ends.

A hydrogen shortage last year that left many stations offline exacerbated the decline. Despite the challenges, Toyota is betting big on hydrogen as a clean energy solution.

Related Posts