It has long been noted that hydrogen could be a game changing zero emissions (in use) fuel in certain sectors.
Hydrogen fuel cells are already in use and hydrogen combustion is being hailed as a sustainable option for heavy-duty, off-highway, marine and even aviation.
In recent years we have begun to see the upsurge in H2 trucks, buses and even trains, with international development funding being pumped into a broad spectrum of products.
However, despite international hydrogen economies starting to grow and a recognition of hydrogens place in the decarbonisation of transport mix, it still comes with its own challenges.
The production of hydrogen – unless green hydrogen produced with 100% renewable energy – still produces carbon emissions. Furthermore, storage and combustion also pose challenges when trying to build a hydrogen economy around the automotive sector.
However, Japan being the first country in the world to adopt a national hydrogen plan in 2017 are forging ahead with their hydrogen plans to support decarbonisation and carbon neutrality.
One sector where there is more development happening than ever before is in the light vehicle “small mobility” sector and another is in motorsport.
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry defines small engine machine as “small mobility”. This covers vehicles such as motorcycles, Japan-originated mini-vehicles, small marine vessels, construction equipment, drones, etc.
A recent landmark collaboration has been agreed amongst the four major motorcycle manufacturers – Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda and Kawasaki.
Having joined forces and with approval from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, they have formed a technological research association to use their combined R&D power to pursue the development of “hydrogen-powered engines for small mobility.” (1)
The collaborative organisation has been named HySE – which Kawasaki filed for trademark rights to the name and a logo to match.
The collaborative nature of the agreement will see each manufacturer take its own role in the R&D of the hydrogen model. Honda is tasked with research on the ‘model-based development of hydrogen powered engines,’ while Suzuki is working on ‘functionality, performance, and reliability of the hydrogen-powered engines.’
Yamaha and Kawasaki are taking leading roles with both working on the hands-on research using real hydrogen-powered engines. Each company also has additional roles. Yamaha are tasked with developing refuelling systems and hydrogen tanks while Kawasaki are concentrating on the additional equipment required for fuel supply system and tanks. (1)
Japan’s recognition of and continued support of combustion is echoed by Kenji Komatsu, Chairman nominee of HySE and Executive Officer of the Technical Research & Development Centre at Yamaha.
“There are many challenges in the development of hydrogen-powered engines, but we hope to see the association’s activities advance the fundamental research in order to meet those challenges.
We are committed to this endeavour with a sense of mission to preserve the use of internal combustion engines, which epitomise the long-time efforts that our predecessors have invested.” (1)
Despite the inherent challenges faced with hydrogen production, storage and usability, Japan is determined to include hydrogen as one of the ways in which they plan on decarbonising transport and aim for carbon neutrality. Toyota for example is actively pursuing hydrogen combustion, not fuel cells and Honda will be selling a version of its most popular SUV, the CR-V, with a hydrogen engine in 2024.
Japanese giant Toyota believes emphatically that it is far too early to focus on a single zero emission solution. Therefore, Toyota are simultaneously developing hydrogen fuel cell and hydrogen combustion technology alongside their battery electric technology.
However, one arena Japan are forging ahead in is hydrogen motorsport.
Toyota, with the Rookie Racing Team, competed in all rounds of the Japan’s Super Taikyu endurance touring car series in 2022 in a hydrogen combustion GR Corolla H2. Toyota President Akio Toyoda took the wheel with his driver pseudonym “Morizo” to evaluate and contribute to the technology’s development. (2)
Furthermore, a Toyota hydrogen-engine vehicle fitted with a GR Yaris H2 engine was also put through its paces on a demonstration run on the Ypres Rally, a round of the 2022 World Rally Championship.
The valuable data collated from running these two H2 racing set up cars has seen Toyota be able to increase hydrogen combustion power by 24 per cent and torque by 33 per cent. Furthermore, the driving range was extended by around 30 per cent and refuelling time reduced from about five minutes to 90 seconds. (2)
With this additional information, Toyota have been able to create a prototype road car – the Corolla Cross H2 Concept.
The mid-size Corolla SUV* will be powered by the 1.6-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged engine featured in the GR Corolla* performance model and has been re-engineered with high-pressure hydrogen direct injection technology. The prototype is also fitted with hydrogen fuel tanks, packaged with know-how gained from development of the Toyota Mirai fuel cell electric saloon. (2)
Toyota, like many other manufacturers working in hydrogen development, believe that by adapting existing technologies and by leveraging existing investments, hydrogen combustion could lead to widespread, accessible carbon reduction solutions being available sooner. (2)
However, Japan’s sights are not only set on hydrogen motorcycles, passenger cars and rally/touring cars. They have their sights set way higher than this and recently announced their intentions to run a hydrogen hybrid at the 2026 Le Mans 24-hour race.
Toyota’s GR H2 Racing Concept was unveiled at the Circuit de la Sarthe in western France just before the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans. None of the technical specifications were released at the unveiling and the only element to be reported was the size of the vehicle which stands at 5,100 millimetres long and 2,050 millimetres wide. (3)
Hydrogen continues to gain traction globally as one of the many ways in which carbon neutrality can be met by many countries. Yes, there might be issues with production, storage, handling and combustion. However, with Japan as one of the worlds most technologically advanced nations on earth continuing to forge ahead with hydrogen developments, there must be some merits to warrant further investigation and research.
Written and cited by Katy Mason for and on behalf of Dolphin N2.
- https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/news-and-views/news/2023/may/honda-yamaha-suzuki-kawasaki-hydrogen-motorcycle-engines
- https://media.toyota.co.uk/toyota-highlights-its-multi-technology-approach-to-zero-carbon-with-hydrogen-combustion-prototype-car/
- https://www.hydrogenfuelnews.com/gr-h2-racing-toyota/8559167/#:~:text=Aside%20from%20technical%20specs%2C%20it,permitted%20at%20that%20year’s%20event.
