Harnessing Waste Hydrogen for Friendship: Fuji Series Conclusion
Toyota's groundbreaking liquid hydrogen Corolla project, first introduced in the Super Taikyu endurance racing series in Japan in 2021, has made significant progress in reducing, utilising, and treating boil-off gas in motorsport. The project, which transitioned from using gaseous hydrogen to liquid hydrogen in 2023, is a key part of Toyota Gazoo Racing's mission to accelerate innovation in the hydrogen value chain.
The Corolla race car, now powered by a hydrogen-fuelled internal combustion engine combined with a hybrid system, has proven to be a formidable competitor. Despite the challenges on the track, the car completed its first race of the season with only two stops, on par with gasoline-powered cars with improved range.
Chairman Akio Toyoda is leading the charge in building partnerships to improve the image of hydrogen and create a hydrogen society. Toyota is actively seeking collaborators across the hydrogen production, transport, storage, and automotive sectors to help develop and scale this technology. The goal is to build a sustainable ecosystem around liquid hydrogen use in motorsports and eventually broader applications.
The future vision of Toyota's liquid hydrogen motorsport initiative focuses on refining hydrogen systems through ongoing track testing and strengthening partnerships to support a zero-emissions future in racing and beyond. The company sees motorsports as a critical starting point to advance hydrogen technology towards a carbon-neutral society and aims to expand the production, transportation, and use of hydrogen through collaborations with partners inside and outside the automotive and hydrogen industries.
Project Manager Yamamoto and Project General Manager Ito are particularly eager for partners who enjoy a challenge and are eager to work together on something new. They are calling out to companies to help fill the gaps in Toyota's technologies for the liquid hydrogen Corolla project, including the development of more lightweight and compact fuel cell stacks, superconducting technology for the pump motor and drive components, and solutions for reusing boil-off gas as fuel such as a self-pressurizer.
The liquid hydrogen Corolla's fuel is kept at an ultra-low -253°C in tanks with a double-shell vacuum-insulation structure, to maintain the fuel in a liquid state. Any remaining hydrogen that is not used by the self-pressurizer or FC stack is converted into water vapour via a catalyst, then safely released outside the vehicle.
The electricity generated through chemical reactions between oxygen in the air and surplus boil-off gas not used up by the self-pressurizer or FC stack will be used to power equipment such as the pumps that deliver liquid hydrogen, thereby boosting the car's overall energy efficiency.
The 2024 Super Taikyu Series concluded on November 17 at Fuji Speedway in Oyama, Shizuoka, with ROOKIE Racing's #1 Zhongsheng ROOKIE AMG GT3 emerging victorious in the overall race, despite a turbulent race with two red flags and stoppages. Development on the liquid hydrogen Corolla project continues without pause, with the team seeking new partners for further advancements. The development of superconducting technology is proceeding at a rapid pace, with a view to implementation in the coming season.
Toyota's liquid hydrogen racing project is positioning itself as a pioneering effort not only in motorsports but also in advancing hydrogen technology for broader sustainable transport.
- Toyota's liquid hydrogen Corolla project, with its focus on reducing, utilizing, and treating boil-off gas, is a significant step towards renewable energy and sustainable living in the automotive industry.
- The hydrogen-fuelled internal combustion engine combined with a hybrid system in the Corolla race car has shown impressive performance, completing its races with only two stops, demonstrating its competitiveness even with gasoline-powered cars.
- Toyota is actively seeking partnerships across various sectors such as hydrogen production, transportation, storage, and the automotive industry, aiming to build a sustainable ecosystem for liquid hydrogen use, not just in motorsports but also in lifestyle and home-and-garden applications.
- The liquid hydrogen Corolla project is working on the development of more lightweight and compact fuel cell stacks, superconducting technology for the pump motor and drive components, and solutions for reusing boil-off gas as fuel, inviting companies who enjoy a challenge to collaborate.
- The electricity generated through the chemical reactions between oxygen in the air and surplus boil-off gas not used up by the self-pressurizer or FC stack is used to power equipment, boosting the overall energy efficiency of the liquid hydrogen Corolla and aligning with Toyota's mission for a zero-emissions future.
