Hydrogen Fuel Propels Racing Vehicle During Extensive 24-Hour Competition
In a groundbreaking move, Toyota and its partners transformed the Fuji 24-hour race into a showcase for hydrogen-powered technology, marking a significant step towards a cleaner, more sustainable future for the automotive industry.
At the heart of these initiatives is Toyota's advanced liquid hydrogen technology, which includes a self-pressurizer system that converts boil-off hydrogen gas back into usable fuel, increasing efficiency and sustainability. This holistic system maximizes the energy use of hydrogen fuel beyond just propulsion, demonstrating Toyota's commitment to innovation.
The race event also served as a platform for collaboration among Japanese fuel and car manufacturers. They unveiled a low-carbon gasoline fuel as part of a wider multi-pathway approach to carbon reduction in motorsports and beyond, indicating efforts to explore diverse carbon-neutral fuels and technologies in parallel with hydrogen.
Toyota's hydrogen combustion engine Corolla, in its fifth year at Fuji, reflects a sustained commitment to testing and improving hydrogen combustion technology under demanding race conditions. This long-term technical development is intended to contribute to practical, carbon-neutral solutions for the automotive industry.
The hydrogen combustion engine project leverages existing internal combustion engine technology with modifications for direct hydrogen injection and turbocharging, showing a pragmatic approach rather than fully replacing engine designs.
The pits were powered by a Mirai fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) parked out back, sending electricity to the pits via a large Honda Power Exporter. A white Granace van, a carbon-neutral FCEV equipped with a Mirai unit, was parked beside the pits. Jun Sato from the GR Brand Management Division highlighted the use of FCEVs to supply electricity in the area.
President Akio Toyoda, participating in the race under the name Morizo, noted the absence of gasoline smell in the pits and the quietness. He commented that this hydrogen-powered environment is not yet the norm but will become common in the future. Akio encouraged the media to share these efforts to remember the start of hydrogen-powered engines and societies.
CHILLOUT BASE 2021, the camping and glamping area, showcased hydrogen-powered facilities. An FCEV was a kitchen car outfitted with a refrigerator, induction cooktop, and even a rice cooker, capable of preparing carbon-neutral meals. Sato hopes the demonstration will allow visitors to experience the possibilities of hydrogen.
Other electric vehicles such as plug-in hybrids (PHEV) and battery EVs (BEV) can serve as a household power source through a function known as Vehicle To Load (V2L), with the Mirai also supporting this function.
Akio believes that because of this mindset, things will look different 10 years from now. He compared the pioneers of hydrogen technology to those who took on the challenge with enjoyment, not despair. Hamada emphasized the goal to use hydrogen to help many people.
In summary, the hydrogen-powered initiatives at the Fuji 24-hour race extend well beyond just running a hydrogen race car. They include pioneering liquid hydrogen fuel system innovations, collaborative fuel development with other manufacturers, and sustained engineering efforts to perfect hydrogen combustion engines for real-world applications, all leveraging the race as a rigorous testing ground for future clean energy mobility solutions.
- Toyota's initiatives at the Fuji 24-hour race are not limited to hydrogen-powered racing cars; they also include collaborative projects with Japanese fuel and car manufacturers to explore diverse carbon-neutral fuels and technologies like low-carbon gasoline and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV).
- In the future, as Akio Toyoda envisions, technology will advance to the point where FCEVs will not only power hydrogen-powered race cars, but also supply electricity to crucial areas like race pits, providing carbon-neutral solutions for various industries, including sports and beyond.
