Driving Past Traditions: Exploring the Impact of the Mirai 1000 kilometer Journey in France

Toyota Mirai Sets New Hydrogen Drive Record in France

A remarkable achievement was made by a task force in France, as the Toyota Mirai, a fuel cell electric vehicle, successfully completed a 1,000+ km drive on a single hydrogen refuel, setting a new world record in May 2021.

The record-breaking drive was initiated by Cedric Borremans from Toyota Motor Europe (TME) and Victorien Erussard from Energy Observer, following a conversation in 2019. The project was a collaboration between TME and Energy Observer, a French company that conducts research on renewable energy. Toyota provided the onboard powertrain system for the Energy Observer vessel.

The team, chosen based on eco-driving scores, was a mix of car specialists and non-specialists, with a good age and gender balance. Marie Gadd (TFR) selected four drivers for the Mirai challenge: Victorien Erussard, James Olden, Maxime Le Hir, and herself. The team members practiced driving in their own time to help set the best record possible.

The project aimed to promote the use of hydrogen as a future energy source and showcase zero-emissions energy. Borremans mentioned that the synergy between a big company and a startup enabled them to light up the Eiffel Tower in 2021.

For the European members participating in the first attempt, the project meant overcoming common structural and demographic challenges, building good cross-border relations, and benefiting from medical knowledge exchange, especially in supporting children with cancer. This demonstrated the tangible societal benefits of European cooperation.

Cedric Borremans believes exchanging technical information and focusing on kaizen would help take the project to a higher level. He also expressed anticipation for future developments in the project and hopes to involve more employees in the process.

The record was broken again by a Japanese automotive team within a month. Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota, expressed his anticipation for the challenge to be taken up in various regions around the world. Borremans mentioned that the success of the project taught them that a large company can learn from startups.

Gadd reported receiving positive responses from social media about the project. Borremans expressed his gratitude for the support and anticipation for more records to be broken in the future. The team's achievement is a significant step towards a more sustainable future, highlighting the potential of hydrogen as a viable energy source.