Toyota recently completed a 24-hour race in a Corolla modified to run on hydrogen.
The Corolla was entered into the Super Taikyu Series in late May and Toyota president Akio Toyoda had a stint behind the wheel. During the course of the race, the car completed 358 laps, traveling 1,634 km.
Things didn’t go off without a hitch, however, as the modified Corolla spent about 8 hours in the pitlane for various issues. In addition, it spent around 4 hours having its hydrogen tanks refueled.
Watch Also: Toyota Corolla With Hydrogen-Powered GR Yaris Engine Sounds Pretty Good
Unlike most hydrogen cars that use complex fuel cells and electric motors, the Corolla used in the 24-hour race had the same 1.6-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine as the GR Yaris, albeit modified to run on compressed hydrogen rather than gasoline. This compressed hydrogen was stored in four carbon fiber fuel tanks in the rear of the hatchback.
According to Nikkei Asia, the Corolla’s tanks needed to be refilled no less than 35 times during the course of the race. By comparison, most other gas-powered participants only needed to fill up 20 times.
Speaking after the race, Akio Toyoda reiterated his support for hydrogen as an alternative to electric vehicles.
“EVs are taking center stage in electrification, and if everything goes to EVs, then 1 million jobs will be lost in Japan,” he told local reporters. “We must keep in mind that the goal is carbon neutrality. I want to show that [hydrogen engines] are an option in motor sports venues.”
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