Last August 1 Toyota Motor Corporation entered another of its developmental stage hydrogen-powered engines at the five-hour-long Super Taikyu Race in Autopolis. The hydrogen engine is being developed as part of Toyota’s efforts to realize a carbon-neutral mobility society to offers both zero emissions and none of the distance anxiety associated with all-electric vehicles.
This is the second time the company brought in a hydrogen powered car, and as in the previous round, the vehicle run under the ORC ROOKIE Racing banner. Toyota President Akio Toyoda once again will participate in the race as the driver Morizo. By entering a hydrogen-powered vehicle that uses green hydrogen produced locally in Kyushu, Toyota intends to further strengthen the hydrogen-centered partnerships it enjoys with other industries in the region.
The hydrogen engine Corolla participated in its first race at the Fuji SUPER TEC 24 Hours Race, and full length endurance competition which took place at Fuji Speedway last May 21, 2021. With the goal of accelerating the pace of development of its hydrogen engine. In the two or so months since the race, Toyota has implemented a number of improvements both to the car and to its related hydrogen infrastructure.
Improvements implemented over the last two or so months. The last race did prove the engine’s durability but needed to gain more improvements in a racing environment so as to speed up development and improvements on the powertrain itself.
For example, abnormal combustion, a phenomena of the faster burning hydrogen fuel versus normall fossil fuels has been reduced, leading to improved performance, increasing torque increased by about 15 percent. Adjustments also lead to even better responsiveness”•one of the merits of using a hydrogen engine”•has been further improved with a 40 percent improvement, from approximately 5 minutes to just about 3 minutes.
Working time from connecting to disconnecting the hydrogen station nozzle also improved.
Toyota now uses green hydrogen produced by FH2R as well as by Obayashi and Toyota Motor Kyushu
By participating at Autopolis, Toyota hopes to identify any potential issues under tough conditions, and so accelerate the pace of its development. The company will also procure green hydrogen produced locally for local consumption from Obayashi and Toyota Motor Kyushu, which support its attempts to develop a hydrogen engine. In this way, Toyota will contribute to the use and production of green hydrogen, increase energy choice, and thereby contribute to the realization of carbon neutrality.
Making use of engine technologies developed in Japan over many years, hydrogen engines represent a new choice in Toyota’s efforts to realize carbon neutrality. Both in the Fuji SUPER TEC 24 Hours Race in May, and in the upcoming Super Taikyu Race in Autopolis in July and August, Toyota has benefitted hugely from the cooperation of many affiliated companies. In order to safeguard employment in the automotive industry, Toyota will continue to develop hydrogen engines together with the 5.5 million people in the automotive industry and various other partners.
