Three Differently Fueled Vehicles to Enter the ENEOS Super Taikyu Series 2022 Powered by Hankook
This year, Toyota will enter three vehicles equipped with powertrains that use different fuels in the Super Taikyu Series.
The reason for this is that while carbon dioxide is emitted during combustion, the fuel itself uses carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere which results in plus/minus zero emissions, as well as the fact that it can use existing infrastructure and vehicle technology.
Hydrogen engine-equipped Corolla
The hydrogen engine-equipped Corolla competed in a total of four rounds in last year’s Super Taikyu Series, promoting agile development through motorsports. In the approximate six months between the first round in May of last year and the final round in November, engine performance was improved to levels comparable to gasoline engines, with a 24% increase in power output and 33% increase in torque, along with successful control over abnormal combustion. However, improved cruising range and reduced hydrogen filling time for practical use are major issues that will be addressed throughout the year.
Transporting
Hydrogen for the hydrogen engine-equipped Corolla will be transported to the Suzuka Circuit in the bio-fuel trailers of Toyota Transportation Co., Ltd, and the electric fuel cell trucks of Commercial Japan Partnership Technologies. Until now, we have used metal tank in hydrogen transportation, but going forward, CJPT’s fuel cell electric trucks will use racks tanks mounted with lightweight resin liners cultivated in the development of the FCEV MIRAI, enabling high pressure hydrogen transport. By changing current tank to those with resin liners, tank pressure can be increased from 20 MPa to 45 MPa, and the amount of hydrogen that can be transported has increased by approximately four times compared to the previous race. In addition, we will continue to make improvements to meet the demands of those who need hydrogen in various fields, such as by raising the tank pressure to 70 MPa, and take on the challenge of transporting hydrogen even more efficiently.
Up to 370 Nm3 of hydrogen is produced per hour by electrolyzing water with electricity derived from solar power through a P2G (power-to-gas) system at the Komekurayama Electric Power Storage Technology Research Site in Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture.
Hydrogen filling time reduction
Last year, we made improvements to the vehicle to allow for filling from both sides, and reduced hydrogen filling times with each round. This year, with an eye on expanding the use of hydrogen in the future, we will take on the challenge of “high flow filling,” increasing boosting the rate of pressure during filling. Normally, the temperature inside the tank increases rapidly if filled all at once, but we have changed the filling port and piping to handle large flow rates while ensuring safety to make sure the upper temperature limit isn’t reached. By using high flow filling while maintaining the method of filling on both sides of the hydrogen engine-equipped Corolla, hydrogen filling time has been shortened from just under two minutes in the previous race to one and a half minutes.
By changing current tank to those with resin liners, tank pressure can be increased from 20 MPa to 45 MPa, and the amount of hydrogen that can be transported has increased by approximately four times compared to the previous race.
In the ST-Q class, in addition to the hydrogen engine-equipped Corolla and GR86 (carbon-neutral fuel), Mazda Motor Corporation’s MAZDA SPIRIT RACING Bio concept DEMIO and Subaru’s Team SDA Engineering BRZ CNF Concept will also participate in the rounds using carbon-neutral fuel.
Toyota will continue to work together with many relevant parties to refine vehicles and accelerate development in the strict environment of motorsports, create a wide range of partnerships beyond the boundaries of the industry, and further expand options for producing, transporting, and using hydrogen and carbon-neutral fuels to help achieve a better carbon-neutral society
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