The Un-Tesla gets workout

In an English-challenged statement two years ago, Tesla CEO Elon Musk had this to say about hydrogen-powered cars: “And then they'll say certain technologies like fuel cell—oh, god—fuel cell is so bullshit, except in a rocket.” He also called them “extremely silly.”

This week, Washington Post automotive writers published their assessment after a test drive of Toyota's hydrogen prototype, the Mirai: “The Mirai is responsive, futuristic, fully featured and fun to drive, the kind of car you can see beating gas guzzlers at their own game. … With a 300-mile range, it leaves Tesla's Model S in the (clean, zero-emission) dust.”

The Mirai is expected to go on the market later this year, but it will be a slow, gradual launch in California and a few other states as hydrogen fueling stations (now in just three states) and other problems are dealt with.