Gadkari Switches To Toyota Mirai Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car, Says It's As Comfortable As Mercedes

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari told the Lok Sabha that he has started using a Toyota Mirai, a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, and described it as offering the same level of comfort as a Mercedes. Speaking during Question Hour, he called hydrogen the futuristic fuel and said the government is prioritising alternative fuels to reduce the country's Rs 22 lakh crore annual fossil fuel import bill and tackle air pollution in cities like Delhi.

The Toyota Mirai is the brand's flagship hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle. It generates electricity on board by combining hydrogen stored in high pressure tanks with oxygen from the air, producing only water vapour as exhaust.

The electric motor drives the wheels, which makes it a zero emission vehicle in operation. Toyota launched the second generation Mirai globally in 2020, and a small number of units have been imported into India for demonstration and pilot use, although it is not yet on commercial sale here.

Premium sedan comfort with long range

Gadkari’s comfort comparison is in line with what the Mirai is designed to offer. It is a premium sedan with a quiet cabin and smooth acceleration, helped by the instant torque of its electric motor. The quoted range is about 650 kilometres on a full tank of hydrogen, which is comparable to many conventional petrol cars and much higher than most current battery electric vehicles.

For a minister who travels frequently and needs a reliable, comfortable car, the Mirai can functionally replace a luxury diesel or petrol sedan, provided refuelling is available. That is the showcase message: a hydrogen fuel cell car that can match a Mercedes on comfort while emitting only water vapour at the tailpipe.

Hydrogen in the larger alternative fuel mix

Gadkari framed his vehicle choice in the context of India’s energy dependence. He pointed out that India imports around 300 million metric tonnes of crude oil and petroleum products annually, meeting 88 percent of its crude oil requirement and 51 percent of its natural gas needs through imports. This costs the country Rs 22 lakh crore every year and contributes significantly to urban air pollution, where vehicular emissions are a key source of particulate matter and nitrogen oxides.

He expressed confidence that as India shifts to alternative fuels, including electric vehicles, biofuels and hydrogen, it could eventually become a net exporter of energy. The idea is that domestically produced ethanol, green hydrogen made from renewable electricity and advanced battery storage can displace imported fossil fuels. If these technologies scale up and become cost competitive, surplus capacity could potentially be sold to other markets.

Gadkari also referred to ongoing research into battery chemistries such as lithium ion, sodium ion, zinc ion and aluminium ion, and highlighted the government’s Green Hydrogen Mission. The mission aims to increase production of hydrogen made from renewable energy sources for use in vehicles, industry, power generation and long distance trucking and shipping.

Biggest roadblock: refuelling infrastructure

The key challenge for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles like the Mirai is infrastructure. The car needs hydrogen refuelling stations, which are almost non existent in India at present. Creating a usable network will require heavy investment, technical capability and coordination between fuel suppliers, vehicle makers and government agencies.

Without such a network, hydrogen cars are effectively limited to controlled fleets and demonstration projects, where they can be refuelled at a handful of captive stations. That is why the Mirai today is more a technology demonstrator than a realistic option for private buyers.

The minister’s comments indirectly acknowledge this by emphasising production and technology efforts rather than claiming immediate mass adoption. Hydrogen has to be produced, transported, stored and dispensed safely and at a viable cost. Green hydrogen, made from renewable electricity via electrolysis, is currently expensive. Grey hydrogen, made from natural gas, is cheaper but still emits carbon during production, which reduces the environmental advantage if used at scale.

Signal to the auto industry, but mass adoption is distant

Gadkari also said that India’s automobile industry has grown to Rs 22 lakh crore in size, making it the third largest in the world after the United States at Rs 79 lakh crore and China at Rs 49 lakh crore. He expressed confidence that electric vehicles will help the country reach the number one position in the coming years. Hydrogen and EVs are being positioned as complementary parts of that strategy, with both aimed at cutting fuel imports and building domestic manufacturing capability.

For Toyota, having a senior minister use the Mirai in such a visible role is a strong endorsement of its fuel cell technology. The company has invested heavily in hydrogen and sees fuel cell cars as suitable for long range use cases where fast refuelling is important.

For now, though, the Mirai in Gadkari’s garage is a one off rather than a sign of early mass adoption. Hydrogen cars face a clear chicken and egg problem: buyers will not commit without refuelling stations, and investors will not build stations without a meaningful vehicle base. Gadkari’s decision puts hydrogen firmly on the policy radar, but how quickly it moves from pilot projects to something enthusiasts and buyers can realistically consider will depend on how fast infrastructure, policy support and commercial economics line up.