What if ICEs could remain, doing little detriment to the environment? Toyota has announced that it is now tinkering with carbon-neutral fuels and hydrogen ICEs in motorsport as a case study.
At a recent roundtable media event, Toyota divulged its multi-pathway approach for reducing its carbon footprint. This New Global and Regional Direction is summarised by a few key points, the first of which pertains to carbon neutrality. The Japanese automaker aims to be free of carbon globally by 2050, with key milestones along the way being a 33% reduction of CO2 emissions by 2030 and 50% by 2035. This will be achievable by accelerating battery electric vehicle (BEV) expansion worldwide, aiming for 10 new models by 2026, which would amount to 1,5 million vehicle sales per year.
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While the majority of other automakers are affixed on the idea that electric vehicles are the undisputed future, Toyota’s multi-pathway approach is just that, exploring various forms of propulsion for mobility. Existing forms of technology which are gaining prominence in the automotive world include battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEV). All of the aforementioned technologies require precious earth materials to construct components like batteries and electric motors. These finite resources are hard to come by and have a significant environmental impact when mined from the ground.
Toyota believes there are other solutions out there. The Japanese automaker is confident that the internal combustion engine (ICE) is not dead just yet! Fairly new to the world of mass motoring are hydrogen-powered vehicles and carbon-neutral powered vehicles. Of the two Toyota is tinkering with, the latter is the most recent addition to its research and development projects. This isn’t the first time a manufacturer has done this nor is it the first headline Toyota has made with the technology.
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Toyota has entered a Hydrogen-powered Corolla and a GR86 running on carbon-neutral fuel into the Super Taikyu Series 2023. The hydrogen-powered Corolla has run on gaseous hydrogen since its first entry in the Super Taikyu Series in May 2021. Over the past two years, it has evolved with each race in areas such as output, torque, cruising range, and filling time.
Toyota states: “Our goal by the end of this season is to enter races with a vehicle running on liquid hydrogen, which we have also been working to develop. As with gaseous hydrogen, we will refine our technology and people by taking on the challenge of continuously improving each item.”
The GR86 (carbon-neutral fuel), which has competed in the Super Taikyu Series since 2022, will compete against Subaru Corporation’s Team SDA Engineering BRZ CNF Concept, as well as Mazda Motor Corporation’s MAZDA ROADSTER, which will newly enter the ST-Q class using carbon-neutral fuel from the summer. Through this competition, we will continue our efforts to increase fuel options together with our partners. We will also use the knowledge we gain through refinements in the strict environment of racing toward the development of production cars.
While Toyota Global continues tinkering with carbon-neutral fuels, Leon Theron, Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing for Toyota South Africa Motors has expressed his excitement for the technology stating that should it ever evolve into a mass-accessible fuel, current ICE-powered vehicles would only need small modifications to run it. This includes a new fuel tank, fuel lines and injectors. The internal combustion engine may not be dead just yet!
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