Toyota combines an internal combustion engine with a fuel cell system in a race car.
For years, the automaker has sought to keep the feel of a gasoline engine while eliminating carbon emissions.
Examining Toyota’s relationship with hydrogen is like watching a couple that loves each other but struggles to sync. They can’t seem to get along—fighting and failing repeatedly—but they keep trying.
For years, Toyota has invested in hydrogen technology, aiming to create future mobility solutions. Europe is a prime market, with its commitment to reducing carbon dioxide emissions and promoting hydrogen as a clean alternative.
The company already has a hydrogen-powered vehicle, the Toyota Mirai, which is the most well-known in the sector. However, the Mirai hasn’t performed equally well in all markets due to challenges inherent to fuel-cell vehicles. For example, they require tanks to store hydrogen at 700 bar of pressure. These tanks take up significant space but deliver relatively low range for their size.
To tackle these challenges and explore new opportunities, Toyota is experimenting with a hydrogen-powered Corolla in racing.
Combining Two Worlds
Have you ever wondered why brands spend so much money on racing? This is an excellent example.
Toyota is testing its latest advances in hydrogen technology at the ENEOS Super Taikyu Series 2024, a Japanese racing championship.
In 2021, Toyota unveiled a combustion engine concept that burns hydrogen instead of gasoline. This engine mimics the sensations of traditional gasoline engines, including their signature sound.
Toyota sees potential in this technology, particularly for sports cars. However, the early results were problematic. The car consumed fuel rapidly, even with large tanks, requiring 41 pit stops—twice as many as its competitors.
By 2023, Toyota pivoted to using liquid hydrogen instead of gaseous hydrogen. This approach solved storage issues since liquid hydrogen requires less space. However, it introduced new inefficiencies.
Liquid hydrogen is cryogenically stored at -423.4 degrees Fahrenheit, a highly energy-intensive process. Additionally, some hydrogen evaporated due to boil-off gas caused by warming temperatures.
To address these issues, Toyota developed an innovative system. The vaporized hydrogen is pressurized and fed into a small fuel cell system, which generates electricity to power vehicle components, including the liquid hydrogen pump.
While some hydrogen remains unused in this process, Toyota has devised an intermediate step: a catalyst converts the unused hydrogen into water vapor before it exits the vehicle.
Toyota hopes this system will eventually generate enough electricity to replace the alternator’s functions. The company remains committed to refining this approach, believing it could bridge the gap between traditional combustion engines and fully electric alternatives. As Toyota’s engineers continue to innovate, only time will tell whether these efforts will make hydrogen the fuel of the future.
Image | ENEOS Super Taikyu Series 2024
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