The Toyota GR Yaris H2 Concept uses its standard turbocharged 1.6-liter three-cylinder engine but runs on hydrogen. It injects hydrogen directly into the engine for internal combustion, rather than being a fuel cell vehicle.
Atkinson, who owns a regular GR Yaris, found the hydrogen-powered hot hatch "tremendous fun." He praised Toyota and Formula One for working to keep the internal combustion engine alive by using clean, alternative fuels. Toyota is developing a GR H2 Le Mans prototype to race on hydrogen fuel in 2026. As for Formula One, it will switch to hybrid powertrains running sustainable fuels in that same timeframe.
While Mr Atkinson was a self-confessed early adopter of electric-car technology – having received a degree in electrical and electronic engineering in the 1970s – he recently criticised the rise of battery-powered vehicles in a column for UK publication The Guardian.
In a video uploaded to Instagram, the actor spoke about his belief that hydrogen vehicles – both those which use a fuel cell or a traditional ‘internal combustion engine’ – could be a viable alternative to electric cars towards achieving zero tailpipe emissions.
Mr Atkinson told Goodwood Festival of Speed attendees and viewers of the event’s online livestream:
"That’s why I’m here today, to support the notion of keeping our minds open to how we are going to power cars into the future. I think particularly for motorsport, electric racing cars are tricky as they sound like a washing machine moving on to a spin cycle. It’s hard but a lot of people are trying to retain the emotion (of an engine) which only a piston-engined car can give you. Maybe we’ll get used to electric racing cars and love them one day, but at the moment there is, let’s say, a certain customer resistance to them.”
Source: Toyota