Toyota enters 3 differently fueled cars in ENEOS Super Taikyu Series 2022

MANILA: Toyota Motor Corporation entered three vehicles with powertrains that use different fuels in this year's ENEOS Super Taikyu Series.

The company aims to realize a carbon-neutral society while fostering the development of ever-better motorsports-bred cars by refining vehicles and fixing issues in a timely manner in the field of racing. Toyota will also continue to support the formation of new partners in the production, transportation, and use of hydrogen and carbon-neutral fuel in cooperation with other industries.

Toyota also aims to contribute not only to racing but also to social development and future life through collaboration with the Super Taikyu Organization and principal sponsor ENEOS Corporation, as well as other Super Taikyu sponsoring and operating companies and affiliated organizations.

The 2022 Super Taikyu Series featured the hydrogen-powered Corolla, fostering agile development through motorsports. Engine performance was enhanced to levels comparable to gasoline engines, with a 24% increase in power output and a 33% increase in torque, as well as effective control over unusual combustion. Among the significant issues that were addressed are increased cruising range and shorter hydrogen filling times for practical use.

As part of an effort to broaden internal combustion engine fuel options, Toyota has also launched a new GR86-based vehicle that runs on carbon-neutral gasoline. The vehicle is powered by a 1.4-liter turbo engine derived from the GR Yaris and the hydrogen-powered Corolla, and development was supported by existing technology.

As a way of attaining carbon neutrality, carbon-neutral fuel has gotten a lot of interest. The rationale for this is that, while carbon dioxide is produced during combustion, the fuel itself uses carbon dioxide already present in the atmosphere, resulting in net zero emissions, as well as the fact that it can take advantage of existing infrastructure and vehicle technology. Toyota  will find issues, implement changes, and realize the potential of future practical applications by competing with Subaru Corporation, another ST-Q class participant, during the year and by training in the realm of motorsports. Furthermore, the expertise obtained from perfecting the car during races will be transferred to the Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86's evolution.

Under the Tom's Spirit banner, Toyota entered another vehicle based on the GR86 from Round 2 in the Fuji Super Tec 24-Hour Race. Relatively closer to a production car than the GR86 (carbon-neutral fuel) participating in the ST-Q class, it will be improved through races, and the observations will be applied to build production models and parts, promoting the creation of ever-better motorsports-bred cars. Toyota also hopes that a friendly rivalry with other teams will add to the overall thrill of the ST-4 class.

The hydrogen engine-powered Corolla used a supply of hydrogen obtained from solar power generation developed in cooperation between Yamanashi Prefecture, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, and Toray Industries, in addition to solar power-derived hydrogen from Namie Town in Fukushima Prefecture.

Hydrogen produced by Yamanashi Prefecture, Tokyo Electric HD, and Toray is currently used in Yamanashi Prefecture plants. A P2G (power-to-gas) system electrolyzed water with electricity supplied from solar power to generate up to 370Nm3 of hydrogen per hour at the Komekurayama Electric Power Storage Technology Research Site in Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture. Yamanashi Prefecture, in collaboration with Tokyo Electric HD and Toray, founded the Yamanashi Hydrogen Company, Inc., the first in Japan to concentrate in P2G systems, last February to accelerate the implementation of this P2G system in Japan and abroad, as well as the formation of a hydrogen energy society. It concentrates not only on P2G system technological advancements, but also on sales operations.

Toyota Transportation Co., Ltd's bio-fuel trailers and Commercial Japan Partnership Technologies' electric fuel cell trucks delivered hydrogen for the hydrogen engine-equipped Corolla to the Suzuka Circuit. Toyota has always used metal tanks for hydrogen transportation, but CJPT's fuel cell electric vehicles used rack tanks with lightweight resin liners developed during the construction of the FCEV MIRAI, allowing for high pressure hydrogen transport. Tank pressure was increased from 20MPa to 45MPa by replacing existing tanks with resin liners, and the amount of hydrogen that can be delivered has increased by nearly fourfold compared to the previous race.

Aside from 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 also competed in the ST-Q class rounds utilizing carbon-neutral fuel. During the race, the three carmakers shared information in areas where they can collaborate while still vying against one another, accelerating technical innovation and working towards a carbon-neutral society.

Toyota will continue to collaborate with various relevant organizations to improve vehicles and foster innovation in the demanding environment of motorsports, forge new partnerships outside the industry, and expand options for generating, transporting, and utilizing hydrogen and carbon-neutral fuels in order to contribute to a more carbon-neutral society.

Photos from Toyota Motor Corporation

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