The Toyota Corolla Cross Hydrogen Concept is one of vehicles currently on display at this year’s Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) to showcase the Japanese carmaker’s multi-technology approach to achieving carbon neutrality.
First revealed last December, the concept doesn’t feature a fuel cell stack to generate electricity to power a motor. Instead, the SUV is powered by a 1.6 litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine from the GR Corolla, albeit re-engineered with high-pressure hydrogen direct injection technology.
In a hydrogen internal combustion engine, hydrogen is mixed with air and compressed in the engine’s cylinders. A spark plug then ignites the mixture, causing a controlled explosion that generates mechanical power which then drives the engine’s pistons to ultimately power the vehicle.
As pure hydrogen does not contain carbon, no CO2 is produced, eliminating the main greenhouse gas emission of a conventional petrol-powered engine. The concept has two hydrogen fuel tanks, with one being under the rear seats and another under the boot floor. Aside from clean combustion, other benefits of vehicles with a hydrogen internal combustion engine are quick refuelling times and a reduction in the need for limited-supply resources such as lithium and nickel to make batteries.
While the presence of the hydrogen fuel tanks does rob underfloor storage in the boot, efficient packaging means the concept is still able to offer seating for up to five passengers and space for things above the boot floor – the interior looks pretty standard too. Even so, the low density of hydrogen means a large volume is necessary to store enough hydrogen to provide adequate range. Another downside is the energy density of a hydrogen and air mixture is reduced, which lowers power output.
The Corolla Cross Hydrogen Concept is currently undergoing real-world testing in Japan, with Toyota claiming it is around 40% along the path to commercialisation of products previewed by the concept. The carmaker has also performed testing of hydrogen internal combustion engines in competitive settings, as it entered the GR Corolla H2 in all Super Taikyu endurance races in Japan last year. Before that, the GR Yaris H2 was put through its paces in a demonstration run at the WRC.
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Can do TNGA-GR Hydrogen Race,
Circuit could have Hydrogen Fuel Supply.
this is the future
should be cleaner than EV battery production & disposal
good luck trying to find a refill centre.
well i’m not paying RM15/L for hydrogen.
better stick with Petroleum if that is the type of price.
I dunno man. We are looking for petrol alternatives that is cheaper, but hydrogen fuel is EXPENSIVE!
Making hydrogen from natural gas costs about USD$1.50 per kilogram. Clean hydrogen costs about USD$5 per kilogram.
Hydrogen ni just saving money for car manufacturer. They spent billions of dollars in R&D for the past 20 years, so now they hope they can reuse all the old combustion engine design and transmission which they have poured money into.
Go for EV lah, less headache. Infrastructure also growing here in Malaysia. Charging speeds will only improve when the tech improves. Forget about hydrogen cell engines, its trash, and so expensive to refuel.
P1 and P2 should not only focus on EV but also this !