The one-off Corolla race car, which burns compressed hydrogen to power its turbocharged 1.6-liter engine, completed a total of 358 laps, a lap count which translated to less than half that completed by the race-winning Nissan GT-R.
In explaining its reasoning behind the firm’s slow take-up on electric cars, a company spokesman in 2019 mentioned that Toyota is able to produce enough batteries for 28,000 electric cars each year, or enough for 1.5 million hybrid cars. One other important factor is emissions. Toyota says that selling 1.5 million hybrid cars reduces carbon emissions by a third more than selling 28,000 electric cars.
But just how efficient is a hydrogen-engined race car? After hearing the figures, I have more questions than answers. In the Fuji 24 Hour race, Toyota Rookie Racing’s Corolla Sport actually only spent 12 hours competing on the track. It had to pit 35 times to replenish its hydrogen tanks, a process which on average took around seven minutes, translating to a grand total of 4 hours refueling.
Hydrogen combustion actually has advantages in that it could help save jobs in the transition between today’s economy and tomorrow’s future technologies down the road. By using a hydrogen-powered engine you don’t have the extra expense of developing the electric motor or hi-tech batteries. Thus it’s a simple clean solution to a complicated problem. And hydrogen-engined cars are expected to be cheaper than current hybrids.
So from what we’ve seen with the Mirai fuel-cell car and the hydrogen-engined Corolla, hydrogen does have definite future applications. But if it can only run for 12 hours of a 24-hour race and require four hours in the pits to refuel, then I’m afraid I can’t see it having many motorsport options. In a career that spans 30 years, I have written about automobiles, innovation, games, luxury lifestyles, travel and food. Based in Tokyo since 1988, I was in the frontIn a career that spans 30 years, I have written about automobiles, innovation, games, luxury lifestyles, travel and food.