Mercedes-Benz has spent much of its time at CES pimping the self-driving F 015, and while the car certainly matches the flashy, future-style tech CES attendees love to ogle, there’s a lot to be said for subtle progress too. If you’re Toyota, that subtle progress may just be the very first commercially available hydrogen-powered vehicle, releasing this year, and starting at $57,000. It ain’t cheap, but neither is gasoline.
Related: Mercedes-Benz F 015 Brings Luxury To Self-Driving Cars
The beautiful thing about Toyota Mirai is that it could easily keep its brilliant feats of engineering all to itself. But it doesn’t plan to. Toyota’s intention, according to its CES presentation, is to license every last hydrogen and Mirai-related patent to other car-makers completely free of charge. Is there a catch? You bet there is. The free-of-charge part vanishes after the year 2020. In other words, if other car-makers become dependent on Toyota’s patented designs for hydrogen fuel-cell technology, they’ll have no choice but to pony up paid licenses five years down the line. Sow goodwill now, and reap cash later. It’s brilliant, and I’d expect nothing less from the notoriously clever Japanese company.
Beyond all that, though, Toyota is absolutely right in its assertion that Mirai could drastically change the landscape of automotive vehicles in Japan, America, and eventually everywhere. Self-driving cars are flashy, they’re futuristic, but they’re also predictable. I mean, let’s be real here — Google has been tinkering away at them for over half a decade. We know they’re going to happen eventually, and we need simply wait until they do.
But a real live hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, sold directly to consumers? No gas, no harmful emissions, and a 300 mile drive radius that trumps all but the priciest of competing electric vehicles? It’s always been regarded as completely preposterous. You can color me thoroughly impressed, and so was renowned physicist Michio Kaku when he introduced the product at CES himself. Oh, and unlike a battery-powered car, the Mirai can be refueled in 3-5 minutes, and power your entire house for nearly a week. Game, set, and match, Tesla. At least for now.
The most obvious caveat of Toyota’s Mirai-volution (it’s too late, I already said it) is the cost of building a hydrogen fuel infrastructure, and the company won’t even sell you a Mirai unless there’s a hydrogen station within a reasonable distance of your home. Given that it costs upwards of a million dollars to build one, it’s not exactly surprising that Toyota is giving away three years of free fuel with every Mirai sold. It’s a good deal on paper, sure, but by the time three years pass and we start actually seeing some of these things pop up where regular gas stations are, your free fuel grace period will be just about over.
Also See: The Tech We Cannot Wait to Get Our Hands on in 2015
Mirai will take time to catch on, but the most promising thing about it is that it’s far more impressive than Prius was when it first released. Only Tesla has succeeded in creating electric cars with range above 300 miles, and Mirai will achieve this from the day it’s made available. Most importantly (and as Dr. Kaku repeatedly pointed out), hydrogen is quite literally the most abundant resource on the planet. As soon as the installation of fueling stations become reasonably affordable, be it five years from now or fifteen, you can bet Toyota will have a massive game-changer on its hands. Maybe then Mercedes can license out its self-driving patents for free and return the favor.
Image Credits: Toyota and The Verge
The Best Tech of CES 2015
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The Biggest News From CES 2015
Click through the gallery to check out the biggest news coming out of CES 2015.
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Mercedes presents a luxurious self-driving car.
Google's self-driving car was equipped with some revolutionary tech but didn't look all too great in the looks department, and this is where Mercedes-Benz has stepped in with its F 015 model, which looks like the future... if the future had incredibly ugly rims. We're not entirely sold on the design, but hey, at least it's better looking that Google's attempt.
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Charger revealed that will give your smartphone full battery in seconds.
Charging your smartphone is always a hassle, given how quickly it takes iPhone and Android batteries to die. However, this charger from StoreDot could very well change the entire industry, as it charges your smartphone within seconds. That's no exaggeration, either - just check out the video in the below article to see the amazing tech in action.
Read more about the incredible super-fast charger right here.
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Samsung reveals its stunning SUHD line.
Now THAT'S a good-looking TV. Samsung revealed its brand new Super UHD TVs at CES, which are 2.5 times brighter than the average television. Hopefully looking at them won't burn our retinas, but if they do, then at least we'll go blind in the knowledge that we've seen the true definition of beauty.
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50 Cent unveils his Star Wars headphones line.
50 Cent's audio company SMS Audio unveiled some Star Wars-themed headphones at the CES 2015, featuring designs based upon Darth Vader, R2-D2, Chewbacca and more. The 'Star Wars Street' line is the second run of Star Wars headphones from the rapper, and their particular blend of geek chic will surely leave some tongues wagging.
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Intel wants to get rid of passwords with its True Key facial recognition app.
Memorizing all of your passwords is an arduous task, and with online security becoming more of an issue as the years go by, the password system in general feels somewhat archaic. This is where Intel's True Key app comes in, using facial recognition technology to allow users to log in to their favorites sites without having to remember a series of numbers and letters.
Read more about how True Key is looking to destroy passwords once and for all right here.
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New motion controller lets you play video games with your feet.
As the video game industry readies itself to step into the world of virtual reality with the upcoming consumer models of the Oculus Rift and Project Morpheus, a new motion controller has also made its way onto the horizon. The 3DRudder allows you to control the movement of your in-game player-character using your feet, and when combined with VR technology it adds a whole new depth to your gameplay experience.
Read more about the motion controller for your feet right here.
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Sling TV wants to kill cable and satellite television.
One of the most intriguing unveils from the show was the announcement of Sling TV, a new online service from Dish Network which wants consumers to leave cable and satellite television in the dust. Sling will be a budget alternative to cable/satellite providers and offer a plethora of channels to viewers, giving the likes of Netflix some stiff competition.
Find out about Sling TV's pricing and the channels it will offer right here.
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The HP Envy 34c brings the curve to PC monitors.
If you thought curve technology was only reserved for TVs then guess again, because HP introduced us to the beautiful Envy 34c display at CES 2015 and it looks to be the future of PC monitors. The Envy 34c boasts a high resolution and a quickfire panel response, making this the ideal monitor for gamers and day-to-day users alike.
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Lamborghini reveals a $6,000 smartphone.
If you have the cash to blow on a Lamborghini, then you might have an extra $6,000 to spend on their 88 Tauri smartphone, too. Lamborghini isn't exactly entering into the smartphone market in a big way with this device, as we can't imagine many plumping for a device over the $5k mark, but this hand-assembled device is certainly eye-catching and will undoubtedly attract some high-rollers.
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A new Tony Hawk Pro Skater game is coming to the PS4.
Tony Hawk himself announced that a new Tony Hawk Pro Skater game is in development, and it will be coming to the PS4. Though the series' popularity has dwindled, many are hoping that this will new installment will be its glorious comeback.
Read more about the Tony Hawk Pro Skater announcement right here.
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Samsung unveils a tiny SSD that can store up to 1TB of data.
If you're like this, then you have a whole bunch of external hard drives lying around filled with data, funnelling out of your desktop or laptop with all your precious files, causing a mess at the same time. Samsung's SSD T1 does away with the clutter by offering a lightweight solution that's smaller than a credit card, a must-have for travelling professionals.
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Ninebot wants to revolutionize personal transportation.
Yes, it looks like a Segway, but Ninebot hopes to rid consumers of their memories of that embarrassing vehicle with a far more futuristic, less cumbersome attempt at cracking the difficult personal transportation market. The Ninebot and its more lightweight companion the Ninebot One have both proven to be big hits in China, and now they're coming for Western audiences, too. Will they prove to be a success?
Read more about how Ninebot hopes to be the future of solo travel right here.
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This device wants to completely replace your wallet.
The Wocket looks to take away the irritation of carrying around multiple cards (and, if you're as clumsy as us, losing them) by storing all of your credit, debit and loyalty cards digitally. There's even a little space for your driving license behind it, meaning that there's no need to ever worry about misplacing your money ever again.
Watch our video with the minds behind the Wocket right here.
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The smart basketball looks to improve your game.
We took some time at CES 2015 to have a chat with the creators of the 94Fifty Smart Basketball, and those who want to improve their game on the court will no doubt be interested in what we learned about this tech, which boasts an array of sensors which give you instant feedback via bluetooth on your smartphone, essentially acting as a digital coach.
Read more about how the 94Fifty Smart Basketball will change your game right here.
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Panasonic unveils a beast of a massage chair.
Panasonic helped to give CES 2015 attendees a relaxing break this year with the Real Pro Ultra 3D Massage Chair, which offers an all-body massage that will leave you feeling like you've just spent 10 minutes in Heaven. After spending some time sitting in the chair, our editor said that it was "better than any $100+ hour-long massage you will get from a seasoned masseuse."
Read more about the ludicrously relaxing massage chair right here.
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Harman seeks to personalize your in-car audio experience.
Harman used CES 2015 to debut its news in-car audio technology, which looks to keep you sane at the wheel. The tech creates individual sonic zones for each passenger in the car, allowing them to personalize their audio experience while you're driving, with them only being able to hear what they want to hear whilst travelling.
Read more about how Harman is upgrading in-car audio right here.
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Intel invests $300 million in pro-diversity program.
Intel took to the stage during their keynote at CES 2015 to make the huge announcement that they will be investing $300 million in a pro-diversity program, which will encourage and train women and minorities in order to provide a varied working environment in order to increase diversity at the company.
Read more about Intel's pro-diversity program right here.
Photo: The Verge
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The Kube combines cooler with speakers.
The Kube is the luxury party accessory you'll want to get your hands on in time for the summer, with it combining high-quality speakers with a cooler for your booze. At $1,100 it's certainly not cheap, but if you pulled this thing out at your next party then you'll leave your guests suitably impressed.
Read more about how the Kube will keep your summer parties cool right here.
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This 3D motion tracker will improve your game when it comes to your favorite sport.
If you're into your sports, be it motorcycling, wind-surfing or otherwise, you're going to want to track your performance. The Xensr 3D Motion Capture is ideal for the action sports enthusiast, offering a multi-sport device that keeps track of your movements to offer you precise feedback.
Watch our video interview with the guys behind the action sports motion tracker right here.
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Toyota introduces a hydrogen-powered car.
Looking past the self-driving cars, Toyota instead opted to make a small step into the future with the hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai. Expelling no gas and no harmful emissions, this is the vehicle for the eco-friendly, and it looks pretty smart to boot.
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Sony combines fitness tech and portable headphones.
Sony's Smart B-Trainer looks to combine fitness tech with wrap-around headphones that also double as a heart-rate monitor and distance tracker, meaning that users will no longer need to carry around those pesky smartphones when they're working out. Will this revolutionize fitness tech in general?
Read more about how the Smart B-Trainer wants to change fitness tech for the better right here.
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Sony unveils a $1200 Walkman.
Remember the Walkman? Well, it's back, and it costs a whopping $1,200. Far from being multi-talented like the iPod Touch or other multimedia devices, the Walkman ZX2 puts all its weight behind the quality of its audio, and while it's certainly well-equipped in that department, the high price of entry has seen more than a few jaws drop.
Read more about the stupidly expensive Walkman ZX2 right here.
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The bendable TV makes waves.
LG's bendable TV and its ability to curve at the press of a button is certainly one of the highlights of CES 2015 thus far. The EG9900 puts other curved TVs (which are steadily increasing in number) to shame by allowing the viewer to control just how they want their TV to be shaped. Its manual controls allow for the viewer to flatten it when there are multiple people watching the screen, and tighten it when they're sat down for a solo viewing.
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Sennheiser introduces the Momentum 2.0.
Sennheiser used CES 2015 to show off its new mid-range headphones that leave Beats by Dre in their dust with their stylish design and impressive audio quality. The Momentum 2.0 also comes in both wired and wireless forms, with the latter working much better than you'd expect, taking advantage of apt-X technology to allow Bluetooth connectivity without impacting upon sound quality.
Read more about the impressive Momentum 2.0 headphones right here.
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Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai makes his first public statement regarding the Sony Pictures hack.
Sony's Kazuo Hirai has kept quiet about the historic Sony Pictures hack, which saw a plethora of confidential information being leaked online by hacking group 'Guardians of Peace,' but the CEO took to the stage at CES 2015 to offer a formal apology during the company's press conference.
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LG reveals its stunning quantum-dot TV.
CES is all about those high-quality TVs this year, but none are more visually stunning than LG's 65-inch quantum-dot model. Utilizing a selection of "nanocrystals" in order to provide greater contrast, color and clarity, among an abundance of curved and OLED TVs, LG's quantum-dot really stood out.
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Sony has sold 18.5 million PS4s worldwide.
Sony used its platform at CES to announce the financial success of the PS4, stating that the company has sold 18.5 million units worldwide, also revealing some huge numbers for its PlayStation Plus service.
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LG's G Flex 2 can 'heal itself' in 10 seconds.
The curved case of LG's G Flex 2 will certainly be polarizing, though far more impressive is its ability to recover from scrapes and scratches in 10 seconds flat - yes, it can "heal itself." The original G Flex boasted the same feature though would take up to 3 minutes to self-recover, meaning that this is the ideal smartphone for those who like to live dangerously with their gadgets.
Read more about the LG G Flex 2's healing powers right here.
