Winter testing of the prototype will take place in northern Japan
Convinced that it is too early to focus on a single zero emission solution, Toyota is developing fuel cell, hydrogen combustion, and battery electric technologies at the same time.
This multi-technology strategy – which includes battery electric, fuel cell electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid electric vehicles – offers the opportunity for Toyota customers in more than 170 countries and regions around the world to reduce their environmental footprint today. , regardless of the environment in which they find themselves and their daily needs.
This year, Toyota has participated, through the Rookie Racing team, in all the endurance races of the Japanese Super Taikyu series with a GR Corolla H2 with hydrogen combustion. During this time, Toyota President Akio Toyoda, under his master driver pseudonym ‘Morizo’, has been behind the wheel of every race to contribute to evaluation and development.
Outside of Japan, in August this year, a Toyota hydrogen-powered vehicle made its way onto European public roads for the first time, with the GR Yaris H2 being put to the test in events of the World Rally Championship —World Rally Championship (WRC). — in Ypres (Belgium).
This constancy and intensity of automobile activity has helped accelerate development and technical progress. Thus, for example, in the course of one season of the Super Taikyu series, Toyota has managed to increase the power of hydrogen combustion by 24%, and the torque, by 33%, which represents a performance on a par with a conventional gasoline engine.
On the other hand, autonomy has been increased by around 30% and refueling time has been reduced from about five minutes to one and a half minutes. In addition to the use of hydrogen, Toyota is working with multiple partners in areas such as the production and transportation of green hydrogen, using the demanding environment of motorsports as a test bed, and building a wide network of contacts beyond the confines of the sector to contribute to the achievement of a carbon neutral society.
Corolla Cross H2 Concept prototype with hydrogen combustion
This technological progress has given Toyota engineers the confidence to create a concept road vehicle: the Corolla Cross H2 Concept.
By equipping the 1.6-litre, three-cylinder, turbocharged engine of the GR Corolla with high-pressure direct hydrogen injection powertrain technology derived from automotive activity, adding the installation know-how of the Mirai’s hydrogen tank, Toyota has achieved develop a hydrogen-powered Corolla Cross H2 prototype that can carry five passengers and their luggage. Real-world evaluations are currently underway while digital development continues, and the vehicle will begin winter testing in northern Japan soon.
Among other highlights, hydrogen combustion is characterized by the ability to take advantage of existing internal combustion technologies, the rapidity of refueling, and the clearly declining use and need for scarce elements such as lithium and nickel. By adapting current technologies and leveraging existing investments, hydrogen combustion could lead to more accessible, widespread and rapid carbon reduction.
Toyota has come about 40% of the way to getting to market products like the Corolla Cross H2 Concept. It’s still too early to say that the technology will eventually be mature enough to be incorporated into road models, but it certainly offers a clear opportunity in motorsport.