Solutions to win: Ukrainian soldiers transform Toyota Mirai fuel tank into explosive weapon against invaders

Electric car owners always fear the potential danger of a battery fire or a hydrogen tank explosion. However, the Ukrainian military used this vulnerability to their advantage during the July counteroffensive in Vovchansk. They ingeniously crafted a bomb from a fuel tank taken from a Toyota Mirai, resulting in a surprisingly small yet powerful hydrogen bomb.

Interesting Engineering reported that.

What is the problem?

Due to a decrease in foreign military aid, airstrikes became unfeasible, and regular drones were not equipped to handle a significant amount of ammunition. Nonetheless, the Ukrainian military has turned to an unconventional source for procuring materials to create improvised explosive devices- electric vehicles.

What is the solution?

The bomb was created during the July counteroffensive in Vovchansk, located in northern Ukraine. The enemy's attack was unsuccessful, and they fled to a factory near the city. The Ukrainian fighters surrounded the factory but lacked sufficient firepower for a direct assault.

^{Photo: iStock}

How does it work?

Ukrainian fighters often collect components from various car models to create homemade kamikaze drones and other remotely controlled vehicles.

Regarding the incident in question, Ukrainian combatants reportedly placed a 200+ kg explosive in the vehicle, which was equipped with a hydrogen fuel cell from the Toyota Mirai car.

The Mirai uses hydrogen to produce energy through a fuel cell that powers the car's engines. The fuel tank, weighing approximately 52 kg, holds just over 5 kg of hydrogen at a pressure of 4,536 kg per 2.5 square cm.

This tank contains a high potential energy equivalent to approximately 162 kg of TNT. By adding armor-piercing plastic explosives, the Ukrainian military has created a practical, inexpensive bomb for destroying enemy fortifications.

The bomb was planted in a robot-controlled car that secretly reached the eastern part of the factory complex through a partially damaged bridge. The detonation caused a mushroom cloud and a significant fire, likely hitting a Russian ammunition depot.