Hydrogen-powered Toyota vehicle conquers 24-hour endurance race

Toyota Motor Co.’s Corolla H2 Concept vehicle became the world’s first hydrogen-powered to complete a 24-hour endurance race.

The car driven by Toyota President Akio Toyoda accomplished the feat on May 21-23 at the Super Taikyu Series endurance race at the Fuji Speedway.

Remodeled from a commercially available Corolla Sport, the concept vehicle was installed with four fuel tanks that can contain 7.3 kilograms of hydrogen in the backseat and a hydrogen injection system.

The racing circuit served as a testing ground as Toyota plans to heighten technological developments for decarbonization.

Hydrogen engines, while having a similar mechanism to those of gasoline engines, creates almost no carbon dioxide in burning hydrogen.

Toyoda said the company will increase options for decarbonization technologies and had just taken the first step.