A group of Toyota Mirai owners and renters in California (USA), fed up with the inconveniences of everyday life with a hydrogen car, have filed a class action lawsuit against the Japanese manufacturer. Among other things, they accuse Toyota of misleading marketing regarding the usability of its fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV).
The plaintiffs also point to a shortage of operational refuelling stations, the skyrocketing price of hydrogen and the disappointing range of the Mirai, which is well below the approved figures. They argue that “these problems make the car practically unusable” on a daily basis.
Misleading advertising, inability to refuel or very high prices are some of the complaints
The plaintiffs accuse Toyota, its dealers and lessees of providing them with “an unusable car” without informing them “about its risks and deficiencies.” They also complain that they were promised that “hydrogen fuel is accessible” and that refueling the Mirai would not be a problem, as it would be “comparable to refueling a gasoline car.” But for them, it seems that the reality is different.
The plaintiffs allege Common problems finding operational gas stations and compatible with their Toyota Mirai, which often translates into “traveling long distances to find where to refuel.” And when they do, it is not a guarantee of success either: the faulty equipment or incompatible fuel cards they can leave them stranded.
In addition to the shortage of stations, Mirai owners They claim to face technical problems when trying to refuel: “Hydrogen dispensers freeze and become stuck in the vehicle.” Plaintiffs say they are forced to wait at least 30 minutes until the dispenser nozzle warms up enough to safely disconnect it.
In this sense, they argue that “the impossibility of refueling can render the Mirai unusable and require the use of a tow truck and alternative means of transport.” As if that were not enough, they also complain that the actual range of their hydrogen fuel cell car does not correspond to that approved by the manufacturer.
Specifically, drivers of the Toyota Mirai Limited and XLE (with an approved range of 575 km and 647 km, respectively), say that They remain “160 km from the official figures of Toyotawhich significantly limits their freedom of movement between refuelling stops.”
The lawsuit also highlights “a 200% increase in the price of hydrogen fuel in recent years: from $13/kg (about €11.89) in 2022 to approximately $36/kg in 2024 (€32.94). This increase would mean that Toyota’s $15,000 fuel card (€13,725), provided as an incentive at the time of purchase, will not last “at least five years” as the brand promised them.
Finally, Japanese FCEV owners claim that all of the above problems have severely affected the resale values of the Toyota Mirai, which apparently retains only 19.4% of its value after five years of use. As a result, the plaintiffs and class members are seeking damages from Toyota, accusing the company of false advertising.
The first generation of the Toyota Mirai debuted in 2015, followed by the current 2020 model. Both are sold and leased exclusively in California, largely due to the shortage of hydrogen refueling stations in the rest of the US. However, at the beginning of the year Shell announced the closure of seven of the 55 hydrogen stations in California(around 12% of the total) “due to supply problems”, which further complicates the lives of FCEV owners.
In 2023, Only 3,143 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles were registered in California, about 1% of all new electric vehicles registered in the same period. The class action lawsuit against Toyota reflects deep disillusionment among Mirai owners, who feel that the promises made by the manufacturer have not been kept.
This situation underscores the challenges facing mass adoption of hydrogen vehicles, as the industry looks for solutions to make this technology truly viable and convenient for consumers.
Source: www.motorpasion.com
