Hydrogen-Powered Toyota Corolla Sport Zooms Through Second Race

On August 1, the fourth round of the 2021 Super Taikyu Series was held at the Autopolis circuit in Hita, Oita prefecture. Toyota’s Corolla Sport powered by a hydrogen-fueled engine completed the five-hour main race without trouble.

Photo Insert: The hydrogen-fueled Toyota Corolla.

This race marked the hydrogen engine car’s second appearance in competition, following May’s 24-hour race at Fuji Speedway (Oyama, Shizuoka prefecture). At a press conference the day before the race, President Akio Toyoda, who is also one of the hydrogen-powered Corolla’s drivers, conveyed the significance of this challenge.

Half of the hydrogen used in this race was produced in Kyushu, an example of locally made fuel for local consumption. This carbon-free hydrogen was created through the combined efforts of Obayashi Corporation and Toyota Motor Kyushu (Toyota Kyushu).

In the Oita town of Kokonoe, Obayashi Corporation, a leading construction company, runs Japan’s first hydrogen production plant powered by geothermal energy. This plant supplied 30 percent of the hydrogen used in this race.

The hydrogen is made by electrolyzing water in processing equipment powered by electricity obtained from geothermal energy. Because all the electricity is generated in this way, the resulting green hydrogen is made entirely with renewables.

The plant has a production capacity of 1kg per hour (10Nm3/h). This means that the 5.6kg of hydrogen needed to fully refuel a fuel cell electric vehicle Mirai can be produced in around five and a half hours.

At present, five companies have expressed an interest in using the hydrogen, including Toyota Kyushu, which plans to use it in fuel cells and FC forklifts, and hydrogen fueling stations in the Kyushu area.

Whereas power generated from natural energy is affected by the weather, geothermal energy offers the advantage of a stable electricity supply. What’s more, in terms of geothermal energy resources, Japan’s potential is the third-largest in the world, after the U.S. and Indonesia.

However, these resources are not being effectively utilized, with the country ranking tenth in power generation capacity. This is because such infrastructure faces numerous hurdles, including negotiations with local communities, clashing interests with national parks in resource-rich areas, and long lead times before electricity is obtained. These same circumstances also lay behind Obayashi's efforts to produce hydrogen.

In fact, the area where the plant is located had already been scouted for hot springs by a local company hoping to generate geothermal power. However, the company was unable to carry out the project because of difficulties in obtaining permission to extend a mainline to the area.

Through Obayashi’s efforts this time, the energy gained from geothermal sources can now be supplied around Kyushu. Locals have welcomed the project for having “created new added value (other than hot spring baths) from our geothermal energy.”

Toyota Kyushu: Solar power for 1,000 households

Toyota Kyushu’s Miyata Plant is located in Miyawaka City in Fukuoka Prefecture. Twenty percent of the hydrogen used in the race was made by electrolyzing water using electricity generated by solar panels on the plant’s roof.

This hydrogen is normally used to fuel the FC forklifts that carry materials around the plant, as well as for stationary fuel cells used for lighting and the hot water supply. This system was introduced in 2016, marking Japan’s first effort to build an integrated system for producing and utilizing hydrogen from renewable energy. Currently, the plant has the capacity to generate 3,900kW of electricity with its solar panels, enough to power 1,000 households.

For hydrogen, the plant’s production capacity is 2kg per hour (24Nm3/h), or enough to refuel one Mirai every 2.5 to 3 hours. The produced hydrogen is stored in tanks and sent through pipelines to on-site refueling equipment and stationary fuel cells. Currently, the plant has 16 FC forklifts. Such forklifts can run for five hours on a single refuel within five to 10 minutes, which uses 1.2kg of hydrogen and be back at work.

"I am very excited that the hydrogen we have produced will be used in the hydrogen-powered Corolla. We will continue to work with Obayashi Corporation and other companies to bring more people on board in producing and using hydrogen," said Toyota Kyushu President Osamu Nagata.

Following on from the race at Fuji Speedway, this time sees the addition of new partners in the production of hydrogen. By taking place through motorsports rather than regular testing, these efforts towards creating a carbon-neutral society have drawn a great deal of attention.

At the press conference, Akio emphasized the importance of working together with like-minded partners, saying, “Carbon neutrality is for the benefit of the earth, for our world, and for the future, so we need like-minded people to come together”.

President Hasuwa followed on by saying, “If we can demonstrate (that geothermal power creates a win-win relationship with local communities), we may be able to generate momentum for working together in places where people had previously been hesitant”.

President Nagata also expressed his hopes and aspirations for the project, saying, “To address the challenge of lowering costs, we need collaboration between industry, academia, and governments. We want to move forward by drawing on expert knowledge”.

For the next race in Suzuka, the team plans to add another partner, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, on the side of transporting hydrogen from Australia. Like Akio has often said recently, as the “purposeful passion and action” of private companies resonate with each other, the circle of hydrogen continues to grow. At the press conference, when asked about the action he would like to see from the Japanese government, the president answered with zeal.

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