If there's one automaker that is constantly in pursuit of perfecting hydrogen technology, that would be Toyota. Okay, so almost every automaker has dipped their toes into hydrogen technology, but no other automaker is as committed as Toyota to this type of fuel. Just recently, Toyota further wants to prove to the world that hydrogen can save the internal combustion engine (ICE) by driving their hydrogen-powered GR Yaris at a demonstration run during the ninth round of the World Rally Championship (WRC) in Ypres, Belgium.
So, How Does Toyota's Hydrogen Technology Work?
As a recap, Toyota has two hydrogen propulsion technologies. The one you're probably familiar is with the Mirai, which is a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV). This technology takes advantage of the bonding process of hydrogen with oxygen to generate electricity for the electric motors. Water is then emitted from its system, which makes it a very clean method of vehicle propulsion.
On the other hand, Toyota also has what they call their hydrogen combustion engine, and this is what's powering their special Toyota GR Yaris. The technology is as straightforward as it sounds. The engine combusts hydrogen to create power, which means it mostly feels like your typical ICE, from the way it drives to how it sounds. More importantly for us enthusiasts, it still preserves the manual transmission.
Hydrogen combustion, however, isn't entirely clean in terms of its emissions. While more studies need to be done at this point, hydrogen combustion engines also emit NOx. If Toyota manages to find a solution for this, then the ICE might have a much longer life down the line.
Hydrogen Combustion Technology Is Bringing New Life To The ICE
This is the first time that Toyota has put its hydrogen-powered GR Yaris through its paces. The car was driven by Toyota President Akio Toyoda, who carries the name "Morizo" whenever he gets involved in motorsports. With him in the rally course was former Finnish driver and four-time WRC champion Juha Kankkunen, who once won a world title with Toyota.
Akio Toyoda has never driven on those Belgian roads, nor did he have the chance to practice on the track before his run. Yet thanks to Kankkunen's directions and the wealth of abilities that the Toyota GR Yaris has, he was able to confidently conquer the 15-kilometer (9.32-mile) Special Stage (SS) 11 rally course. Akio Toyoda (Morizo) says:
Why Is Toyota Hell Bent On Hydrogen Technology In The First Place?
Toyota's developments with its hydrogen technology are born out of the company's reluctance toward electric vehicles (EVs). Akio Toyoda has long argued that in order to solve the climate crisis, a multi-solution approach is needed. The world's focus solely on EVs is completely wrong from his perspective. He says:
This is why Toyota is still keen on ICEs as well as hybrid electric vehicles. Akio Toyoda argues that not all markets are ready for EVs. At the same time, depending on a country's renewable energy utilization, he also says that EVs are just as, if not more damaging to the environment as ICE cars.
