THIS weekend, Toyota Motor Corporation will test its hydrogen engine prototypes under racing pressure under the ORC ROOKIE Racing banner.
It will participate in the Hankook-sponsored Super Taikyu Series 2021 Round 3 NAPAC Fuji Super TEC 24 Hours Race on May 21-23.
It has installed the hydrogen-fueled engine on a racing vehicle based on Toyota’s Corolla Sport, which it will enter in the competition. Toyota’s aim for the race testing is to quickly get information on the feasibility and soundness of the hydrogen engine, to achieve a milestone towards its goal of a carbon-neutral mobility society. Apart from hybrid engines, it is developing the fuel-cell powerplants, including the hydrogen engine as its own technology base.
By honing its under-development hydrogen engine in the harsh environment of motorsports, Toyota aims to contribute to the realization of a sustainable and prosperous mobility society.
Fuel cell electrified vehicles (FCEVs) such as Toyota’s Mirai use a fuel cell in which hydrogen chemically reacts with oxygen in the air to produce electricity that powers an electric motor. Meanwhile, hydrogen engines generate power through the combustion of hydrogen using fuel supply and injection systems that have been modified from those used with gasoline engines. Except for the combustion of minute amounts of engine oil during driving, which is also the case with gasoline engines, hydrogen engines emit zero CO2 when in use.
Combustion in hydrogen engines occurs at a faster rate than in gasoline engines, resulting in a characteristic of good responsiveness. While having excellent environmental performance, hydrogen engines also have the potential to relay the fun of driving, including through sounds and vibrations.
Toyota has long engaged in the innovation of engine technology. Also, it is applying in production vehicles the technologies that it has continued to refine through its participation in motorsports, with the GR Yaris launched last September being one example. And when it comes to safety, Toyota intends to apply the technologies and know-how that it has accumulated through the development of fuel cell vehicles and the commercialization of the Mirai.
Plans are for the hydrogen-engine-powered race vehicle announced today to be fueled during races using hydrogen produced at the Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research Field in Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture. While aiming to expand hydrogen infrastructure by promoting hydrogen use, Toyota intends to continue advancing efforts for economic recovery and revitalization of the Tohoku region together with all parties concerned.
Toward achieving carbon neutrality, Toyota has been strengthening its efforts, such as by aiming to promote the use of hydrogen through the popularization of FCEVs and numerous other fuel-cell-powered products. By further refining its hydrogen-engine technologies through motorsports, Toyota intends to aim for the realization of an even better hydrogen-based society.