This Toyota Ammonia-Powered Engine Seems To Be Gunning For Hydrogen-Powered Vehicles

Toyota is one of the few manufacturers that is heavily investing in alternative fuel sources. We already know that it has an extensive hydrogen combustion and fuel cell division, but a recent announcement reveals that it has now started working on a technology called liquid hydrocarbon combustion engines. The Japanese manufacturer plans to make this commercially available in select markets as soon as 2026 with the possibility of it outright replacing its existing FCEV technology in years to come.

As we know, hydrogen fuel cell technology is a promising field that is burdened by many technical challenges, particularly surrounding storage and hydrogen production, which makes it a substantially more expensive fuel source. Toyota develops this technology alongside its solid-state battery technology, which it plans to introduce to the market within the next few years as well. The brand is also planning an innovative liquid ammonia combustion engine in conjunction with China's GAC, with a fully functional powertrain already constructed.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Toyota's websites and other authoritative sources, including EcoNews and Autocar.

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2024 Toyota Crown Z (FCEV)

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Understanding Toyota's Liquified Ammonia Technology

Silver Toyota Corolla Hybrid front-quarter

Electric car technology remains the primary focus for most manufacturers, but Toyota remains committed to creating a holistic and eco-friendly automotive ecosystem with multiple fueling options. Liquefied ammonia is the latest trend, yielding some promising and noteworthy benefits that could replace gasoline engines in the not-too-distant future.

Working with China's GAC, the company has already created a working naturally 2.0-liter four-cylinder unit that produces 161 horsepower. That's not a bad figure considering this is a fuel-saving engine that doesn't feature any forced induction. For reference, its current 2.0-liter unit, currently found in the likes of the Corolla, produces 169 horsepower.

Toyota Corolla Performance Specifications

Toyota achieves this output while reducing the unit's carbon dioxide output by up to 90 percent. Additionally, the burning of ammonia means that it doesn't emit any carbon, hydrocarbons, or CO2 during the combustion cycle.

The downside of this engine is the high nitrogen output, but considering Toyota and GAC have a working engine, the duo appear to have found a solution to this. The benefit of this engine featuring an internal combustion configuration means that Toyota also won't have to develop new transmission systems, as it should be compatible with its existing technologies.

Ammonia Is Not A Challenge-Free Fuel Source

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Toyota and GAC haven't announced which cars will feature their ammonia engine, but the duo confirmed a 2026 release date. There's a high probability that they will apply it to a hybridized model to optimize overall efficiency. Despite this technology's promising characteristics, there are some noteworthy challenges that the manufacturers need to solve before replacing their existing gasoline technology.

The combustion process is the biggest challenge, because Ammonia burns slower than traditional fuels. Over time, this leads to incomplete combustion which will result in harmful nitrogen oxide emissions. GAC's CEO confirmed that it has found a resolution to this problem in a recent interview with Autocar.

Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles remain an interesting topic for some manufacturers, but they remain noteworthy issues that ammonia appears to counter. The fuel source features more energy per unit of mass than hydrogen, which affords it a higher power output. It's also significantly cheaper to store and transport compared to hydrogen, but not conventional gasoline. Ammonia fuel production remains a niche industry, but that's nothing a few million dollars worth of investments can't fix. When compared to hydrogen, ammonia really seems like it has much more potential to become a mainstream fuel source to work alongside electrification.

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NamX HUV

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What You Need To Know About Liquid Hydrocarbon Combustion Engines

Toyota

Japan has made a significant advancement in fuel technology, surpassing hydrogen with a new innovation, which it calls liquid hydrocarbon combustion. This is a groundbreaking development in the automotive world that aims to revolutionize transportation by making cars far more efficient and hydrogen more practical.

Many consider Toyota to be a leader in hydrogen technologies and developments, which is why it's no surprise that it is the brand to uncover this innovation. What makes liquid hydrogen better is its thicker density, which increases an FCEV's energy capacity by up to 50 percent. You also don't need to store it in a high-pressure tank, which greatly improves distribution, storage, and safety.

This is a technology that Toyota wants to get on the market by 2026, with the goal of increasing driving range by 20 percent, while lowering costs by 35 percent. It will also invest additional funds in manufacturing and production plants and partner with industries to support market commercialization and develop a more hydrogen-inclined society. Its Hydrogen Factory Europe brand will play a noteworthy role in establishing this strategy.

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Complications Surrounding Liquid Hydrocarbon Combustion Engines

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While promising, there are some complications surrounding Toyota's liquid hydrocarbon combustion engine development that you need to be aware of. Creating an appropriate fuel pump that can handle the denser hydrogen is a tough task. This auxiliary function is crucial for any ICE's operation and typically degrades faster than other parts. You can't lubricate it to increase its longevity, because it would affect the hydrogen fuel's chemical composition and resultantly damage the engine.

There's also the issue of maintaining liquid hydrogen during icy temperatures, because this will compromise that tank, which in turn will lead to disastrous potential leaks. Storage and transportation remain a problem for the hydrogen industry, even if a liquid state improves this. Hydrogen suppliers will still need to develop specialized storage tanks and distribution methods, adding an extra layer of complexity to the project. Additionally, Toyota will have to completely reinvent its hydrogen fuel cell design to accommodate the liquid form.

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Front 3/4 view of a 2023 Toyota Hilux Hydrogen prototype

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Toyota's Longstanding Hydrogen Technology

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It's common knowledge to most that Toyota has been a pioneer in hydrogen technology for decades. It first showed commercial interest in the fuel method with the 2014 Mirai, which was one of the first mass-produced hydrogen fuel cell cars available to select markets.

Beyond this, Toyota has continuously and consistently worked on its hydrogen technology with the goal of improving efficiency, performance, and range. Toyota launched the second-generation Mirai in 2020 with significant and noteworthy advancements in driving range and refueling times. However, it remains a niche option available only to Californian residents.

Toyota Mirai Performance Specifications

Beyond this, Toyota has also been deeply invested in hydrogen applications for its commercial vehicles, namely public transport and logistics solutions. These include hydrogen-powered buses, trucks, and even stationary fuel cell systems. The brand also has a comprehensive hydrogen infrastructure network that includes refueling stations. This is so that it can support the broader adoption of hydrogen vehicles within Japan and the U.S. It also invests in some European countries.

Toyota Remains Committed To The Solid-State Battery

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Toyota is currently one of the major players in the competitive solid-state battery market, with a goal to have a market-ready product in just a few years. Solid-state batteries are currently the most important step in the EV revolution, as they promise higher energy densities, faster charging times, and improved safety compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries. They're also much more reliable and benefit from longer lifespans, further reducing overall maintenance costs.

Toyota announced that it began working on the chemistry back in the early 2010s, recognizing its potential to address the limitations of current EV batteries. By 2017, it confirmed that it would commercialize solid-state batteries before the end of the current decade, highlighting a commitment to this advanced battery technology. Panasonic has stepped in as a major contributor to the research and development project.

We got our first look at a somewhat functioning solid-state electric car in 2020, with the rather zany-looking LQ design study. The brand claims that this concept can cover an impressive 745 miles on a single charge thanks to the solid-state pack. That's substantially more than any existing EV can accomplish as of right now, with the Lucid Air Grand Touring being the segment leader with its 516-mile EPA-estimated range claim.

As of right now, we don't have any additional news, but Toyota remains optimistic about the future of solid-state batteries and their potential to transform the EV market. We should see the first examples of market-ready solid-state packs in exclusive cars like the upcoming Lexus Electrified Sport.