The Toyota #Mirai wins World Green Car of 2016. #WCOTY2016 pic.twitter.com/QfP0Asq5j0
— World Car Awards (@WorldCarAwards) March 24, 2016
It has been a long and arduous road that began last spring. That was when the 73 jurors of the 2016 World Car Awards were elected. They hail from 23 countries, including Australia, China, Japan, Germany, India, and the United States, and are all top-level automotive journalists.
That summer, the 2016 Toyota Mirai was nominated, along with seven other candidates, for consideration for the World Green Car award.
Three finalists were selected at the Geneva Auto Show -- the Mirai, the Toyota Prius, and the Chevy Volt.
Though the 2016 Prius received favorable attention and came in a close second place, the award had to go to the Mirai for one reason: hydrogen.
Unlike the other contenders, the Toyota Mirai requires no gasoline or electricity, and produces no tailpipe emissions, because it runs on pure hydrogen fuel. Unlike gasoline, hydrogen can be created sustainably once an infrastructure is in place.
A number of things must happen before the Mirai is ready for mainstream use, but Toyota is one of the first automakers to push for this energy revolution.
Visit Lithia Toyota of Missoula to learn more about eco-friendly models, and test drive a new vehicle.
