A few months ago Toyota tested a hydrogen-powered Corolla in the Super Taikyu 24-hour race and now the company is putting the same engine to an experimental Toyota GR Yaris showcasing the potential of hydrogen as fuel. Unlike traditional fuel-cell vehicles like the Mirai, the experimental GR Yaris is using a specially prepared internal combustion engine which uses hydrogen instead of petrol. From the aforementioned Mirai, it only borrows the hydrogen fuel tanks meaning that it goes through the same refueling process.
The turbocharged 1.6-liter three-cylinder
engine codenamed G16E-GTS is closely related to the one on the production-spec
GR Yaris but it features a modified fuel supply and injection system in order
to burn hydrogen. The same motor was tested on the modified Corolla last June
and while the racecar spent a lot of time in the pitlane for various issues and
refueling, it successfully completed the 24-hour race.
Besides eliminating the vast majority of
harmful emissions associated with petrol, hydrogen also combusts at a faster
rate making the experimental engine responsive. Another advantage is that the
car retains most of the characteristics of ICE-powered vehicles including a
throaty sound.
Toyota says that hydrogen combustion
engine technology is still in “the early stages of conceptual development”
since they started working on it in 2017. While the engine is “not yet ready
for commercialization” the fact that the Japanese company puts it on different
vehicles is indicative of their intentions. We understand that the ultimate
goal of this project is to reach production as hinted by the following
statement in the press release: “By further refining its hydrogen-engine
technologies through motorsports, Toyota intends to aim for the realisation of
an even better hydrogen-based society.”
Toyota is known for not relying
exclusively on electrification as most automakers do, and is currently offering
a mix of HEV, BEV, PHEV, and FCEV vehicles on its range.
