Seeking greater efficiency and sustainability in its vehicles, automaker Toyota is testing its Corolla Sport with a hydrogen-powered engine. The vehicle has already been piloted by the CEO of the brand himself.

Toyota tested its Corolla with a hydrogen engine for 24 hours. The racing model was contemplated with a 3-cylinder gasoline engine borrowed from the Yaris GR and adapted to burn hydrogen as in a common internal combustion engine. Although surprising, this technology is not so new, as BWM began testing this type between 2006 and 2008. But 15 years ago, the transition to more sustainable energies was still not quite a priority.

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How does the hydrogen in the Corolla's engine work?

When hydrogen is used to power a fuel cell system, there is a 100% zero emission electric powertrain. In this case, there are no unburned hydrocarbons or CO2, however some nitrogen oxides are released into the atmosphere anyway.

Nitrogen makes up 78% of the atmosphere and, in the combustion phase, it oxidizes producing its own NOx. Anyway, they are much smaller amounts compared to those emitted by diesel and gasoline. Mainly because an engine that burns hydrogen has a much drier “fuel-air” mixture than an engine that burns gasoline and diesel.

a world record

In June, the Toyota Mirai broke the world record for the distance traveled by a hydrogen car. There were around 1.000 kilometers traveled on the streets of France, with no emissions of pollutants and making a single supply.

The car's record could have been even greater, considering that at the end of the journey, the Toyota vehicle had 9 kilometers of autonomy remaining. The average hydrogen consumption was approximately 0,55 kg per 100 km. Toyota noted that the results were certified by another authority.

Automaker CEO drives hydrogen-powered Corolla

In May, Akio Toyoda was one of the drivers of the ORC Rookie Racing team and took turns at the wheel of the Corolla Sport with a hydrogen engine. The CEO closely evaluated the durability, possibilities and safety of the model. The Corolla underwent several modifications to make it lighter, compensating for the extra weight of the hydrogen tanks, which exceed 100 kg.

The car is also equipped with 4WD system. According to Toyota's CEO, the reason to compete in a 24-hour race is that lasting just five hours is not enough. He claims that many people in Japan associate hydrogen with explosions, so the executive decided to show that it is completely safe to use the substance.