A Toyota Corolla powered by hydrogen completed a 24-hour endurance race on Sunday at the Fuji International Speedway in Oyama, Shizuoka Prefecture, marking the first time a car powered by liquid hydrogen has entered a race anywhere in the world.
Toyota Motor Corp. is looking to use the severe conditions of racing to identify problems with the car that cannot be found in the research stage. The aim is to speed up the development of commercial sales.
The emissions of hydrogen-powered vehicles do not contribute to the release of carbon dioxide. Toyota has participated in race with Corollas equipped with engines fueled by hydrogen gas since May 2021, but switching from gaseous to liquid hydrogen fuel enhances the energy density in the same volume of fuel tank, doubling the cruising range.
The potential for engine-based decarbonization will increase, Toyota president Koji Sato, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said at a press conference on Saturday. While mass production is still challenging, breakthroughs can be found in the field. The design of hydrogen engines is similar to that of gasoline-powered vehicles. Although fuel cell vehicles have motors that generate electricity from hydrogen, hydrogen engines can utilize parts and technologies from gasoline-powered vehicles.
To store or fill up a car with liquid hydrogen, the hydrogen must be kept at temperatures lower than 253 C, which necessitates technologies for fuel pumps and other components.
Toyota originally planned to use a liquid hydrogen-powered car in a March race. The race didn't take off because of an engine room fire during a test run, despite the fact that it did not enter the race. Toyota made its debut with a liquid hydrogen-powered Corolla over the weekend, having made changes after the fire.