You may have noticed that Back to the Future references have come into vogue lately.
That's because this week marks the 30th anniversary of the time-travel film franchise.
Today--October 21, 2015--is also the date that Marty McFly and Doc Brown landed in Hill Valley, California, in Back to the Future II (1989).
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And with an automotive star as iconic as the flux-capacitor-equipped DeLorean DMC-12, you can bet there's plenty of car-related Back to the Future geekiness afoot.
Leading the charge is none other than Toyota, which has produced a short Back to the Future-themed film to promote its Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell car.
It stars none other than Michael J. Fox and Christoper Lloyd, who discuss what future predictions have--and have--not come to pass over the past three decades.
![2016 Toyota Mirai U.S. arrival 2016 Toyota Mirai U.S. arrival](https://images.hgmsites.net/lrg/2016-toyota-mirai-u-s-arrival_100518745_l.jpg)
2016 Toyota Mirai U.S. arrival
The full "story" will be released today, says Toyota, coinciding with the delivery of the very first Mirai fuel-cell cars in California.
Toyota has taken orders for the car since July from interested applicants in a few specific regions of California. It claims to have gotten 1,900 applications for the 1,000 available 2016-model-year build slots.
The Mirai will be distributed through just eight dealers for now, but more may be added as hydrogen fueling infrastructure expands.
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Meanwhile, Queen's University Belfast has taken a different tack in updating a Back to the Future automotive icon: Today it is unveiling an all-electric DeLorean conversion.
Students and staff at the university--located in the same Northern Irish city as the former DeLorean factory--have restored the car and converted it to electric power over the past 18 months.
The modified DMC-12 uses an original DeLorean drivetrain--including the Renault-derived transmission--but with an electric motor in place of the original 2.8-liter V-6.
![DeLorean DMC-12 DeLorean DMC-12](https://images.hgmsites.net/lrg/delorean-dmc-12_100531082_l.jpg)
DeLorean DMC-12
While the original engine was rated at just 130 horsepower, the electric motor produces 270 hp. That allows for a top speed of 120 mph.
The battery pack, composed of 60 individual modules, is split between the front and rear luggage compartments.
The university thought an electric-car project would be useful because it would familiarize students with green technology.
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The DeLorean was chosen for both its movie fame and its connection to Belfast.
(For more information, find "QUB Electric DeLorean" on Facebook and @QUBEeLorean on Twitter.)
Because if you're going to build an electric car, why not do it with style--and get some promotion out of a famous movie to boot?
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