Hydrogen

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Toyota will start to assemble fuel cell modules at its Kentucky plant in 2023.

A dedicated line at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (TMMK) site in Georgetown will assemble dual fuel cell modules to be used by hydrogen-powered, heavy-duty commercial trucks. This site already builds the Toyota Camry and Lexus ES 350.

The dual-fuel cell modules weigh approximately 1,400 lbs and produce 160 kW of power and the kit that will be assembled in Kentucky includes a high voltage battery, electric motors, transmission, and the hydrogen storage assembly itself. A Toyota spokesperson confirmed to Auto News that the fuel cell modules are “designed to fit in essentially the same space” as a similar diesel engine in a Class 8 semi-truck.

Watch Also: James May Finally Gets To Properly Drive His New Toyota Mirai

“We’re bringing our proven electric technology to a whole new class of production vehicles,” president and chief executive of Toyota Motor North America, Tetsuo Ogawa, said. “Heavy-duty truck manufacturers will be able to buy a fully integrated and validated fuel cell electric drive system, allowing them to offer their customers an emissions-free option in the Class 8 heavy-duty segment.”

Toyota hasn’t specified what companies it will supply its hydrogen powertrain to, nor has it said if the move will bring any new investment to the plant.

“This second-generation fuel cell system is necessary for a carbon-neutral future,” Toyota Kentucky powertrain head David Rosier stated. “It delivers over 300 miles of range at a full load weight of 80,000 lbs., all while demonstrating exceptional drivability, quiet operation and zero harmful emissions.”

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Toyota is entering a hydrogen-powered Corolla into an endurance racing series this year and a video of what the engine will sound like has been released.

Toyota has said that the Corolla will race in the Super Taikyu Series and is powered by a modified version of the inline-three cylinder turbocharged engine that will doubtless be familiar to fans of the GR Yaris. The difference is that, in this application, it blows up compressed hydrogen instead of pump gas.

Bassier and throatier than you might have expected, the tenor of the engine may come down to hydrogen being more combustible than regular fuel.

Read More: Toyota Has Modified A GR Yaris Engine To Run On Hydrogen For Endurance Racing

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Toyota said in a press release earlier this month that the engine is more responsive. According to the driver of this Corolla, though, it’s not a huge change.

“It’s not as different as I had expected,” he says in the video. “It feels like a normal engine.”

Indeed, the process of fuel going into a cylinder, being compressed, and exploding is pretty similar to a regular engine, but the explosion generates no CO2. A little bit of oil does get consumed in the process and NOx is emitted, but it’s still a big improvement over petroleum-based fuels.

This Corolla will be raced by the ORC ROOKIE Racing team and will enter its first event next month in the NAPAC Fuji Super TEC 24 Hours Race on May 21-23.

Toyota says that this is one of the technologies it is researching with a view to achieving carbon neutrality. Through motorsport, the company says it hopes to create a hydrogen-based society.

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Hyundai unveiled the Kona N this morning, but a slew of new models are on the horizon as the N and N Line lineup will be expanded to include 18 models by the end of 2022.

The company didn’t go into specifics, but spy photographers recently snapped the Elantra N. It will presumably use the Kona N’s turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 276 hp (206 kW / 280 PS) and 289 lb-ft (392 Nm) of torque. It should be joined by a six-speed manual as well as a dual-clutch automatic.

New Tucson might get the N performance treatment

While officials didn’t talk about the Elantra N at the N Day media briefing, they did reveal a handful of details about other models. In particular, they are discussing a crossover above the Kona N. That’s a not so subtle reference to a possible Tucson N and officials acknowledged they need more crossovers to appeal to Americans.

See: New Hyundai Kona N Debuts As A Track-Capable Crossover With Up To 286 HP

Furthermore, Hyundai confirmed an electric N is coming. Details are limited, but it will be based on the E-GMP platform that underpins the IONIQ 5. While that particular model tops out at 301 hp (225 kW / 306 PS) and 446 lb-ft (605 Nm) of torque, the Kia EV6 is based on the same architecture and offers an insane GT variant with 577 hp (430 kW / 585 PS) and 546 lb-ft (740 Nm) of torque.

Hyundai also confirmed they’re exploring an N model with a hydrogen fuel cell. This isn’t just an idea either as the company already has prototypes on the road.

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Officials didn’t go into many specifics, but indicated the “rolling lab” is a range-extended EV which uses a fuel cell to recharge the vehicle’s battery pack. Hyundai also confirmed the prototypes are based on an existing platform, but said it would likely need to be modified in order to go into production. However, it’s only under consideration at this point and there are obvious challenges.

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