How hydrogen-powered Toyotas become more efficient

A combustion concept equipped with innovative technology to recover hydrogen gas released during driving is presented.

Photo by: Toyota

By: Francesco Barontini

Nov 24, 2024 at 2:50am ET

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Toyota continues its experiments with hydrogen as a fuel in internal combustion engines. Over the weekend of 16 and 17 November, it participated in a stage of the Super Taikyu Series with a very special car. It is the GR Corolla H2 Concept, which is powered by liquid hydrogen and adopts novel solutions to improve performance and efficiency.

Alongside the car that took part in the competition, the Japanese manufacturer also showed an even more evolved concept, which seeks to recover the hydrogen vapours generated during driving. Let's see why.

An increasingly efficient system

Liquid hydrogen has a higher density than gaseous hydrogen, so more of it can be stored for the same tank capacity. Part of the liquid hydrogen, however, evaporates due to the heat of the mechanical components. This vapour has, until now, been released into the atmosphere without being utilised. With the concept shown during the race weekend, however, Toyota has tried to harness this hydrogen gas for different purposes.

Additional fuel. One of these involves getting the vapour into a small pressurisation circuit that can direct it into the cylinders and turn it into fuel for combustion.
Energy generator. Another way of using it is to run it inside a small fuel cell to generate electricity to power the liquid hydrogen pump and other on-board systems.
Formation of water vapour. Finally, hydrogen gas could be combined with oxygen in the air to form water vapour and release a completely harmless substance into the external environment.

Partners are needed

In order to fine-tune such a complex system while bringing gains in overall efficiency and without excessively affecting overall dimensions and weight, Toyota said it is looking for specialised companies to refine this technology.

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The company's goal is to achieve carbon neutrality not by focusing exclusively on the electric car, but by choosing a portfolio of technologies (including hydrogen) that can all make a contribution to reducing emissions. And so far, the results seem to prove it right.