A Toyota LandCruiser powered by hydrogen could be on the horizon, according to a senior executive from the company.
Speaking to media at the unveiling of the hydrogen HiAce, Toyota's hydrogen factory President Mitsumasa Yamagata said the alternative fuel lends itself to vehicles such as the LandCruiser which are used to tow and carry heavy loads.
"There are possibilities to adapt [hydrogen-fuelled engines] into those big vehicles, including LandCruiser," Mr Yamagata explained through a translator. He added, that "this advantage of the technology can be utilised for those vehicles including [those that are used for heavy] towing and [heavy] loading.
Toyota has been working on hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engines since 2017, and showcased the technology four years later when a Corolla Sport competed in four rounds of the Super Taikyu series.
But it's not just hot hatches that have gotten a hydrogen-burning ICE, as the HiAce model has also been modified to run on hydrogen instead of gasoline or diesel. The utility van has entered a pilot program in Australia. At the heart of the workhorse is a turbocharged V6 engine borrowed from the Land Cruiser 300. Power is sent to the rear axle via a ten-speed automatic transmission.
Toyota Hydrogen HiAce prototype
In the HiAce, the engine is drastically detuned, producing only 161 hp (120 kW) and 354 Nm (261 lb-ft). In the regular LC300, that 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 produces 409 hp and 650 Nm (479 lb-ft), so you're sacrificing a lot of oomph when switching from gasoline to hydrogen.
The HiAce has three hydrogen tanks, just like the second-generation Mirai. Interestingly, Toyota says it's not only looking to optimize packaging to increase fuel storage, but is also tweaking the combustion process and even exploring the possibility of adding hybrid technology.
In the HiAce, the combustion engine sits up front, while the hydrogen fuel tanks are mounted under the floor. These have enough juice for a limited range of less than 124 miles (200 kilometers).
Source: Drive
