Bay Area Drivers Sue Toyota Over Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Vehicles

The Rise and Fall of the Toyota Mirai

The Toyota Mirai, a hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, was once hailed as a glimpse into the future of sustainable transportation. However, for many owners, it has turned into a costly and impractical investment. A group of Mirai owners is now suing Toyota, claiming that the vehicles have become virtually worthless due to the lack of hydrogen refueling stations.

When Toyota first introduced the Mirai in 2016, there were only about 20 hydrogen refueling stations in California. At the time, a Toyota spokesperson acknowledged the challenge. "We made the car, and now we just need a few more stations to make it work," said Jay Turmell, a Product Training Specialist, during an introductory event in San Francisco. But nearly a decade later, the situation has not improved significantly.

Malcolm Boehme, a Mirai owner, experienced this firsthand when he found himself stuck at a broken hydrogen pump in Mill Valley, the only station in Marin County. "I'm stuck. I can't drive my car home because then I won't make it back to the gas station," he said. "I'm literally stuck here."

While the Mirai is marketed as an emission-free vehicle, the hydrogen used to power it is produced by burning natural gas, making it far from carbon-free. However, the primary issue for owners is the scarcity of refueling stations. This has led to a growing number of lawsuits, with approximately 700 Mirai owners taking legal action against Toyota.

Attorney Jason Ingber, who represents the plaintiffs, explained the situation: "About 15,000 people bought this car over a period of nine years. The stations have progressively nose-dived to the point where there is no fuel in San Francisco. You have to cross a bridge or go to another county to get fuel. So people are not using the car, and if you don't use it for seven days, the battery dies."

Ingber filed the lawsuit on behalf of the owners, advising them to stop making payments after receiving a letter from a Toyota attorney promising no action would be taken. However, many owners have since faced aggressive collection efforts, damaging their credit scores.

"And at the end of the day, the mechanical defects of the car prevent people from using it, the lack of fuel prevents people from using it," Ingber said. "And people are left holding this $50,000 paper weight in their driveway that Toyota knows they can't use, and are now being harshly debt collected on, and credit reported on, and in some cases even repo'd on."

Zachary Sherry, who purchased a used 2021 Mirai, regrets his decision. He lives close enough to the Mill Valley station but feels trapped with a car that has little value. "It's just frustrating," he said. "It's like, OK, what am I going to do with this car after I get rid of it? There's no market. Nobody is going to repair it. It has an actual expiration date on it, when you can't refuel it."

Sherry's Mirai has a date printed on the fuel door that states, "DO NOT REFUEL AFTER 2036." He joined the lawsuit to hold Toyota accountable for continuing to sell the vehicle despite its limitations.

"I'm not looking for any huge payout or anything," Sherry said. "It's just, the vehicle's totally worthless. At the end of the day, I'll take anything. Because I'm going to wind up having to dispose of the vehicle."

CBS News Bay Area reached out to Toyota for comment regarding the lawsuit, but the company has yet to respond.

The Broader Implications

The Mirai lawsuit highlights a broader issue facing the adoption of alternative fuel vehicles. While hydrogen fuel-cell technology offers promise, its success depends heavily on infrastructure development. Without a robust network of refueling stations, even the most advanced vehicles can become obsolete.

For consumers, the experience of Mirai owners serves as a cautionary tale. Investing in a vehicle that relies on a niche infrastructure can lead to financial and practical challenges. As the industry continues to evolve, it remains to be seen whether companies like Toyota will address these issues proactively or face increasing legal and public scrutiny.