Toyota pushes hydrogen power to keep engines alive

toyota is one of the few brands still investing in hydrogen internal combustion engine (ICE) technology, which it says remains a firm part of its “multi-pathway” solution to decarbonizing its vehicles.

The Japanese automaker has long been developing hydrogen internal combustion engine technology and hydrogen fuel cell EV (FCEV) technology. The former uses a traditional internal combustion engine and makes noise, while the FCEV is as quiet as a battery electric vehicle (EV).

Toyota has so far been experimenting with powertrain technology through motorsport, although it has also shown off a few road-going prototypes. However, no production models equipped with hydrogen combustion powertrains are currently available to the public.

When asked whether Toyota was still pursuing hydrogen combustion engine technology, Sean Hanley, vice president of sales, marketing and franchise operations at Toyota Australia, said: car expert Later in the next decade, it will become even more important as a mainstream powertrain technology.

“(Hydrogen combustion technology) is very active and working well… we’re still developing and trialling it,” Mr Hanley said.

“What I would say about the hydrogen internal combustion engine is that the technology will continue to evolve over the next five years. It’s not a fast technology.

“We don’t think this technology will become mainstream even in this decade.

“But hydrogen itself, especially combustion engine conversion, and fuel cell electric hydrogen vehicles, is going to be huge in 2035 to 2040, and I think that’s where you can expect to see more discussion.

“I wish I could have seen it this long because it’s going to be an exciting time, not just for Toyota but for the industry as a whole.

“Toyota is definitely still investing in hydrogen.”

In addition to motorsport-oriented hydrogen-burning cars such as the H2-powered GR Yaris race car, Toyota has chosen Australia as the development center for its Hydrogen HiAce prototype, which was unveiled last year.

In a pilot scheme, seven Hydrogen HiAce prototypes are loaned to fleet operators for transport for one month at a time. They were asked to report their experiences daily.

Unlike the regular HiAce currently sold in Australia, which is powered only by a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine, the hydrogen-powered prototype is powered by a 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 that can be modified to run on hydrogen instead of petrol.

The engine currently runs on gasoline in the Lexus LX 600 and the Toyota LandCruiser 300 series in other markets.

Toyota says one of the few modifications made to the engine is the fuel injectors, which have been upgraded to run on compressed hydrogen.

The hydrogen-fueled V6 engine in the HiAce prototype produces 120kW of power and 354Nm of torque, 185kW and 296Nm less than the petrol-powered version.

While Toyota continues to develop hydrogen combustion engines, brands such as BMW and Mazda have previously studied the technology, which like FCEVs relies on an extensive hydrogen refueling network.

MORE: Why Toyota chose Australia for its hydrogen van pilot