Toyota's Ongoing Commitment to Hydrogen Power Innovation
Key Ideas
- Toyota remains dedicated to advancing hydrogen internal combustion engine (ICE) technology as part of its decarbonisation strategy.
- The company's hydrogen ICE technology has been tested in motorsport and prototypes, with plans for mainstream adoption in the next decade.
- A pilot program in Australia loaned out hydrogen-powered HiAce prototypes to fleet operators, showcasing the potential of hydrogen as a fuel source.
- Toyota's modifications to the engine of the HiAce prototype demonstrate progress in adapting traditional combustion engines to run on hydrogen.
Toyota is actively investing in hydrogen internal combustion engine (ICE) technology as part of its commitment to automotive decarbonisation. The Japanese carmaker has been developing hydrogen ICE technology alongside fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) for a while, with plans to integrate it into mainstream powertrains by the next decade. Toyota's Australian vice president of sales mentioned that hydrogen ICE technology is continuously evolving and will play a significant role in the automotive industry between 2035 to 2040. The company showcased its hydrogen-powered HiAce prototype, which underwent a pilot program loaned to fleet operators. This modified HiAce prototype is powered by a 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 engine running on compressed hydrogen gas, producing 120kW of power and 354Nm of torque. Toyota's efforts in hydrogen combustion engines are in line with its long-term strategy, with other brands like BMW and Mazda also previously exploring this technology.