Long Beach purchases first hydrogen fuel cell car as part of pilot program

Long Beach recently acquired a new car – one that requires no fuel and releases no emissions.

The city purchased one of its first hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, a Toyota Mirai, that emits only water. The car has a range of about 300 miles and gets roughly 66 miles per gallon.

The city purchased the car as part of a six-month pilot program to assess the practicality of these cars for city use. After the trial period, the Mirai will be placed in various departments for further testing and to get feedback, officials said Tuesday.

Refueling takes about five minutes, and is done at the hydrogen station at 3401 Long Beach Blvd., which is open to the public.

At low speeds, such as city driving, the Mirai runs like an all-electric car by using the energy stored in its battery, which is charged through regenerative braking. At higher speeds, the hydrogen fuel cell alone powers the electric motor as it converts hydrogen to electricity.

“As a leader in making cities more sustainable, we’re proud to implement new technology that reduces our impact on the environment,” Mayor Robert Garcia said in a statement.

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