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The automaker’s groundbreaking sustainable technology could change the shape of transportation.
Toyota is accustomed to making headlines about emission-free vehicle designs and has caught headline attention recently with its ammonia engine innovations.
The technology is the result of a collaboration with the GAC Group Chinese state-owned manufacturer.
The ammonia engine is a form of internal combustion engine (ICE) powered primarily by ammonia, a molecule comprised of a nitrogen atom and three hydrogen atoms. It does not contain carbon. As a result, when it’s burned in an ICE, it does not release carbon dioxide, one of the major greenhouse gases. In the effort to decarbonize, the potential of this type of technology is considerable.
While Toyota has been moving forward with a diverse approach that includes battery electric vehicles, it has also had a notable focus on hydrogen cars. That said, this new design offers another promising alternative, particularly when keeping its high energy density in mind. This can make it a solid option for sectors where energy storage efficiency and transportation are central, such as power generation and transport.
Another plus regarding the ammonia engine is that the fuel is plentiful and readily available.
Producing this fuel mainly involves the use of nitrogen and hydrogen, each of which is available. As a result, the technology could prove to be both cost effective and environmentally friendly at the same time.
The technology is the result of a collaboration between Toyota and GAC. This partnership brought about a prototype that runs on liquid ammonia. The 2-liter, 4-cylinder ammonia engine generates a 161-horsepower output, and the companies claim that it cuts carbon emissions by 90 percent. This could offer an important new option for vehicle design and could contribute to the decarbonization of the transport sector.
Barriers remain
Still, it’s important to note that there remain challenges to powering vehicles with an ammonia engine. The technology remains in its infancy and among the barriers include the ability to effectively manage combustion pressure to overcome issues with nitrogen emissions.
In this area, the team found themselves facing a number of hurdles. Still, the concept has been created and there is no reason to believe that it cannot be moved forward until it suits a commercially available vehicle.
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