Toyota has unveiled their latest “blue” engine and it makes significant improvements to the hydrogen fuel cell that they have invested so heavily in. Toyota has a reputation as one of the world’s best and most reliable car and engine manufacturers. Toyota has been in the automotive industry for a very long time and their steady and noticeable success has lasted generations. While the Japanese giant has made investments in a range of alternative power options for the future, their focus and main commitment has been towards hydrogen.
How much variety does Toyota offer the climate conscious consumer?
Toyota has a long list of successful car sales in the US and abroad. Their traditional gasoline powered cars are reliable and cheap to fix and maintain. Their lineup was impressive and they offered a car for all the different types of consumers and their unique requirements. They could have been happy with that and just continue with what was working. However, the climate and energy crisis has forced companies like Toyota to explore alternative fuel sources.
The first step in that sustainable journey was the iconic Toyota Prius. The Prius debuted in Japan in 1997 before Toyota decided to release it in North America in 2000. The world was amazed at the hybrid technology that proved the gasoline engine and electric motor could work well together. The Toyota Prius was a glimpse into the future and what was to come.
Since the Prius, Toyota have made significant advancements in many alternative fuel options. They now have a wide variety of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). They also now have an all electric vehicle, the bZ4X. Toyota have made certain that no matter what your preference, they will ultimately have a car that suits you.
What have Toyota done that makes this new “blue” engine so special?
So long as the world’s citizens are debating what type of next generation car they want to buy, Toyota will keep working on all types of vehicles. One area in particular that they have a vested interest in is the large scale diesel engine sector. Their engines are used in all manner of construction and mobility machinery, not to mention their cars. This new hydrogen fuel cell could replace the large scale diesel engines we currently use.
Toyota have invested heavily in their third generation hydrogen fuel cell for their new engines. Hydrogen fuel cells offer a similar power output to their diesel cousins, at a fraction of the financial and environmental cost. While the world is focused on Tesla and their EV’s, Toyota has doubled down on their view for a carbon-neutral world that is powered by hydrogen.
According to Toyota’s website the third gen hydrogen fuel cell will improve durability, up to 2x (two times) that of the prior generation, achieving durability comparable to diesel engines and maintenance-free design. That along with a 20% improvement in fuel efficiency, advancements in the infrastructure and cell design and manufacturing processes means that the new engine has a lot riding on it.(pardon the pun)
Will Toyota lead the world’s carbon-neutral goals for the future?
The world has made some commitments to this carbon-neutral goal we have set ourselves. Toyota have the resources to explore a vast range of alternative power solutions for the mobility sector, and they are exploring. But while the world makes its mind up, Toyota has looked beyond the “trendy” EV and all the problems relating to it. Instead they have a different view of our future, they imagine a world powered by hydrogen. They could be onto something as hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe.
