Toyota has converted a GR Yaris to run on hydrogen

Monday, 6 December 2021

Toyota has shared a sound clip of its hydrogen-powered combustion engine. Sounds pretty good to us.

Toyota has been developing its hydrogen-powered combustion engine for a while now and, after racing it in Japan inside a modified Corolla, has given the high-performance GR Yaris the hydrogen treatment.

Called the HR Yaris H2, it’s more a proof-of-concept than anything else. It didn’t take Toyota much effort, either, as the car gets the same 1.6-litre turbo triple as in the racing Corolla (and the regular GR Yaris).

It has modified fuel supply and injection systems, aping those from the Mirai, along with the hydrogen storage tanks.

If it weren’t for the livery, you wouldn’t be able to tell this GR Yaris emits almost no emissions.

Some other small modifications were made to the engine, limited to strengthening the block (hydrogen explodes with more energy than petrol), and new valve seats.

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It’ll even sound the same as the petrol-fed GR Yaris.

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Toyota proved the engine works in a 24-hour race earlier in 2021.

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The engine still needs work, but Toyota is confident it will eventually make production.

Toyota Europe’s CEO, Matt Harrison, told Autocar UK that the technology would allow “almost zero tailpipe emissions without electrification, but it does so whilst retaining the things which fans love most about race cars – the speed and the noise.'

'Music to the ears,' he added, 'especially to those of a petrolhead.'

The GR Yaris H2 isn’t quite a zero-emission car because a small amount of oil is required for lubrication. Power should be roughly identical to that of the petrol-fed GR Yaris though, which is rated at 200kW/370Nm. Presumably, the six-speed manual is retained.

The hydrogen Corolla was deemed a success by Toyota when it first ran in June 2021 at the 24-hour endurance race at the Fuji Speedway, although Toyota CEO, Akio Toyoda, said: 'We faced many problems, but thanks to everyone’s hard effort, we completed the race with a car almost at a shakedown stage. I believe there were many findings because we made the car ready in time for this race.'

In the race, the car spent around half of the 24 hours in the garage for repairs and hydrogen top-ups. Toyota said it was running at around one-third the efficiency of comparable petrol cars.

This is likely where the brand is focusing its developmental energy now, considering it isn’t ready to call the hydrogen conversion production-ready.

But don’t worry, because it seems like Toyota is keen on progressing past the concept stage.

Powertrain boss Thiebauld Paquet also spoke to Autocar UK, and said that cars featuring the hydrogen-combustion technology 'needn't be a distant future'.

Yamaha and Kawasaki Heavy Industries both recently confirmed they will also begin developing hydrogen for motorcycle and heavy industry use. Honda and Suzuki will join them in the future.

The four companies will maintain a “distinct line between cooperation and competition” by establishing a framework that defines areas of cooperation and collaborative research.