Toyota’s hydrogen-powered GR Corolla recently made its endurance racing debut in the ENEOS Super Taikyu Series 2023, completing a challenging 24-hour race in Japan.
The innovative vehicle, featuring a 1.6-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine and powered by liquid hydrogen stored in carbon fiber fuel tanks, showcased Toyota’s commitment to hydrogen technology and its potential in the automotive industry. This article explores the goals, technology, potential impact, and challenges surrounding Toyota’s hydrogen-powered GR Corolla.
The GR Corolla utilizes the same basic engine found in the consumer versions of the GR Yaris and GR Corolla, but instead of gasoline, it runs on liquid hydrogen. Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda, along with a team of drivers, participated in the race as a test of the technology. The use of liquid hydrogen in the GR Corolla offers several advantages over gaseous hydrogen, including increased cruising range and simplified fueling procedures.
By switching to liquid hydrogen, Toyota has improved the car’s cruising range, more than doubling its distance compared to gaseous hydrogen-fueled versions. Additionally, filling the GR Corolla with liquid hydrogen takes just 1.5 minutes, providing a quick refueling process. The adoption of liquid hydrogen has eliminated the need for compressors and pre-coolers used in previous versions, reducing complexity and enhancing the efficiency of the hydrogen system.
Using liquid hydrogen presents unique challenges due to its extremely low temperature requirement of below -253℃ during storage and filling. Overcoming these challenges has necessitated the development of specialized fuel pump technology capable of operating in such frigid conditions. Toyota’s advancements in this area are critical for the successful integration of liquid hydrogen as a fuel source for future hydrogen-powered vehicles.
Toyota’s involvement in endurance racing with the GR Corolla serves as a platform to demonstrate the viability and performance of hydrogen technology in high-stress environments. The successful debut of the GR Corolla powered by liquid hydrogen showcases the progress made in hydrogen fueling infrastructure, storage, and vehicle capabilities. This achievement contributes to the growing momentum and potential impact of hydrogen as an alternative fuel source, particularly in the automotive industry.
