Toyota is cooking up something new in their
garage! And it's not just any ordinary vehicle. We're talking about a brand new, revolutionary
hydrogen vehicle! So, you may have heard about the Mirai, the
hydrogen-powered Toyota vehicle that uses fuel cells to generate electricity. But now, Toyota has come up with something
completely different. They're calling it the new hydrogen combustion
engine. This technology could be a game changer in
the automotive industry! Unlike other car manufacturers that have gone
all-electric, Toyota is taking a different route. But it's not just about being different—it's
about being better. So, let's dive in! We're going to be talking about Toyota's new
hydrogen combustion engine, how it works, and what it means for the industry! We all know that the planet is in a bit of
a pickle, and according to globalcitizen.org, the transportation industry is responsible
for a whopping 15% of carbon emissions worldwide. And, it's no secret that traditional combustion
engines have been a big contributor to the pollution problem, and while electric cars
are definitely gaining popularity, they're not the only solution, some might argue. Enter Toyota's new branch in its diversified
carbon neutrality approach: the hydrogen combustion engine. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the
universe and has the highest specific energy density of any non-nuclear power source. It's exhaust-free and non-toxic and can be
created using many sources, stored indefinitely, and shipped relatively easily. Millions of tons of hydrogen are produced
and used without incident every year, and it's already being used as a power source
in buildings, electric cars, forklifts, ships, and trains. So what's the deal with hydrogen engines? Well, they have longer ranges and don't need
to be recharged like electric cars. And the only byproduct that comes out of the
exhaust pipe is... water! That's right, no harmful pollutants. Now, you might be wondering how it all works. All hydrogen engines use a fuel cell, which
converts hydrogen into electricity. It's like magic, but with science. And did you know that Toyota began cutting
down on fossil fuel-powered vehicles back in 1997, when it first rolled out the Prius? They've been on the eco-friendly train for
a while now. But they're not the only ones. Automakers all over the world are working
to create environmentally friendly cars using solar energy, electrical energy, and hydrogen
power. It's not just about saving the planet; it's
about providing energy security, improving air quality, and minimizing environmental
impact. And, once produced, hydrogen is also efficient
and cost-effective to distribute. Most new vehicle hydrogen refueling stations
create hydrogen on site with electrolysis, using 100% renewable surplus energy. And the best part? These stations are containerized and only
require water and power to operate. Power is supplied on green tariffs or, at
some stations, is sourced directly from solar or wind on-site. Toyota has now claimed to have created a new
way of harnessing the power of hydrogen. Their engineering team recently showed off
the Corolla Cross H2 concept, a new prototype car with a hydrogen combustion engine. Toyota has been working on a new car with
a hydrogen combustion engine different from the fuel cell technology that powers its last
hydrogen-powered car, the Toyota Mirai. The concept of powering an internal combustion
engine with hydrogen is not a new one. One of the pioneers in the game was German
automaker BMW, which introduced the 750HL back in 2002, followed by the Hydrogen 7 in
2005. BMW's Hydrogen 7 was based on a traditional
gasoline-powered 6.0-liter V-12, but with some modifications to burn hydrogen as well
as gasoline. It's a dual-fuel engine! And just to make it even cooler, only 100
of these bad boys were ever produced. But it had some of the worst downsides. For starters, it's highly flammable, so you
might want to think twice before lighting a match anywhere near your hydrogen-powered
car. It's also difficult to process and store,
which can be a bit of a headache. And let's not forget about nitrous oxide,
which is emitted during the combustion process. While it may not be as bad as carbon monoxide,
it's still considered a pollutant by the EPA. That is where Toyota comes in. Well, Toyota believes that there is currently
no single solution to reducing vehicle emissions or meeting customer transport needs. It's all about delivering the right vehicle
to the right place at the right time. So, investments have to be made in all areas
in order to meet immediate, medium-term, and long-term needs throughout the world. And that's where hydrogen comes in, forming
an integral part of Toyota's Beyond Zero campaign. And they are planning to do it with their
H2. You may be thinking, "What is H2?" Well, it's Toyota's fancy name for hydrogen-powered
internal combustion engines, and it's looking like the future of automotive technology. So, how does this work? The GR Corolla H2 is equipped with a 1.6-liter
turbocharged three-cylinder engine, but with a twist: it runs on hydrogen. To make this happen, Toyota uses thick, armored
fuel tanks to store the highly flammable hydrogen technology, which they picked up from their
FCEV, the Mirai. And, with just 5 kilograms of hydrogen, the
car can be driven for up to 300 miles—and the only thing it emits is 50 liters of water! Talk about environmentally friendly. Now, let's talk about the power. Toyota has also teamed up with Yamaha Motor
to create a hydrogen-fueled V-8 engine. That's right, a V-8 that runs on hydrogen—and
it produces 455 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque. But the real showstopper? The eight-into-one top-mounted exhaust manifold
that creates a unique high-frequency sound And if that's not enough, hydrogen-powered
cars also have a higher range and faster refueling times compared to electric vehicles—only
90 seconds for the GR Yaris H2. Plus, it reduces the need for limited-supply
materials like lithium and nickel, which are Corolla H2 is definitely something to keep
an eye on. And with real-world testing already underway,
it won't be long before we see these cars hitting the road. And when it does, forget everything you know
about electric cars, because the Toyota hydrogen combustion engine has a lot of advantages
over them. The biggest one being that it has a larger
range and refueling is as fast as a drag race. Now, not only is this technology beneficial
to drivers, but it's also environmentally friendly. You see, the Toyota hydrogen engine doesn't
require nearly as much rare metal as lithium or nickel, which are critical to the manufacturing
of EV batteries. And while it does have a battery, it's substantially
smaller than an EV's battery. The Corolla Cross H2 concept car is now undergoing
real-world evaluation and winter road condition testing in northern Japan. And with the Japanese government's high hopes
for hydrogen, they plan to have 200,000 fuel cell-powered vehicles on the road by 2025
and 800,000 by 2030, with more refueling stations planned across the country. Now, let's talk about the sound. It not only sounds fantastic, but the exhaust
bark is no different from a tuned gasoline-powered vehicle. And, with no fossil fuel to burn, Toyota's
innovative hydrogen engine emits nearly no CO2. Sure, it does produce a certain number of
noxious gases, but significantly less than a pure gasoline car. But what about safety, you may ask? Toyota's got that covered too. They've added stronger connecting rods, harder
valves and valve seats, and fuel injectors that use gas instead of liquid. So you can ride with confidence, knowing that
safety is a top priority. Now, let's get to the nitty-gritty. What are the benefits of this new technology? Well, let's start with the main drawback of
electric cars: charging. We've all heard the horror stories, but with
hydrogen, it's no big deal. Just like an ICE car, hydrogen takes 90 seconds
to fill up, and although there aren't many outlets right now supplying it, they normally
integrate well with traditional gas stations. Plus, the small battery in the GR Yaris H2
requires fewer raw materials like lithium or nickel, making it even more environmentally
friendly.
Fuel up and Go is what consumers want.
Noone wants to be having to wait around for an hour charging their vehicles. Atm in NZ there are plenty of charging stations and a relatively low number of EV, but you read some of the stories in the US that they have a "charging etiquette" where you are only supposed to use the charging station for 30mins, and folks get upset if you don't.
I've overlooking a petrol station atm and it's full with about 2 cars waiting for others to move on. Imagine the delay if ALL the cars were electric and wanting a 30-60min charge.
if you're going to replace ICE cars then this beats rechargeables.
I can see a place for this, especially for commercial vehicles.
I'll keep my EV though. I like being able to charge at home using solar or off-peak power.
On the motor way passing EVs
As ive been saying ev’s are not the future of the automotive industry. The Mirai has not yet been released for our market but they are already extremely well performing
I just feel evs are a waste of money right now, range is the biggest issue for me being from the south (especially in winter). They are also not good for towing the boat/car trailer, range becomes shockingly terrible, batteries are expensive to replace so second hand is not an option, pretty much have to buy the car new. I already dislike having to stop on long range journeys to get gas so stopping to charge is just not gonna happen.
I spend $30 a week on my travel around the city, (1500 a year). Financially it makes 0 sense to buy an e.v for me might as well keep driving my daily.
I might consider an e.v when they can come up with a ute that will tow 3500kg for 1500km on a single charge, until then I won't be getting one.