Toyota‘s GR efficiency division plans to make use of hydrogen to maintain its combustion-engined sports activities automobiles on the highway – however infrastructure shortcomings stop it from being an rapid answer.
The GR division, which has its roots in Toyota’s Gazoo Racing motorsport operation, at present sells 4 automobiles: the GR Supra, the GR86, the GR Yaris, and, within the US, the GR Corolla, every of which is powered by a petroleum engine.
Toyota lately revealed the FT-Se concept as a preview of GR’s first EV and has detailed plenty of initiatives on which it is working to make sure that electric sports cars are suitably participating. However, it hasn’t put a timeframe on their arrival and has voiced no plans to part out its petrol automobiles.
Now GR supervisor Masahito Watanabe has mentioned that all-out electrification is not a precedence for the sub-brand, pointing to Toyota’s extremely publicised efforts lately to develop hydrogen-combustion expertise as a possible lifeline for its piston engines.
“We still think the internal combustion engine has some potential and, as we do so, we will of course be trying to comply with all the applicable rules according to the regions in each country,” he mentioned.
“But we do not wish to surrender. It’s not over simply but, as a result of if you happen to have a look at the inner combustion engine, there’s nonetheless hydrogen combustion that may be part of that zero-emission line-up, so I feel that is going to proceed.
“As you see in the [FT-Se], we still see high possibility for battery EVs, but what we want to do is pursue the multi-pathway [approach] that we’ve been seeing in motorsports and sports cars in general.”
Toyota’s multi-pathway strategy manifests in a product plan that features 15 battery electric cars by 2026 however nonetheless leans closely on hybrid expertise in a bid to supply most selection for customers.
It additionally stays dedicated to hydrogen gasoline cell expertise, though is shifting its FCEV focus from passenger automobiles to heavy items automobiles, in addition to ships and energy storage.