Toyota and Yamaha are working on a hydrogen-powered V8 engine

Toyota has called on Yamaha to create a hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine. And Yamaha hasn’t done things by half-measures, choosing to take the Lexus RC F’s 5.0-litre V8 unit as a starting point for the project.

The block is basically the same, but Yamaha has made modifications to the engine’s fuel injectors, cylinder heads and intake manifold to allow it to run on compressed hydrogen. The engine is topped-off by an immaculately fabricated eight-into-one exhaust manifold.

Yamaha has managed to screw 444bhp from its hydrogen V8 engine, which is only 13bhp less than the unit produces when powered by petrol. Interestingly, though, the unit develops 540Nm of torque – which is 20Nm more than the standard powertrain.

Because all of the mounting points are identical to that of the standard Lexus 2UR-GSE V8 engine, theoretically, it could be dropped into the nose of an standard RC-F with minimal modifications. The only major changes required would be a new fuel system with a pressurised hydrogen storage tank in place of the coupe’s standard petrol tank.

The project forms part of a wider collaboration between Kawasaki, Subaru, Toyota, Mazda and Yamaha, which was announced at the end of last year. The aim of the project was to research and develop alternative fuel options for internal combustion engines that would allow the technology to become carbon neutral.

Keywaylock
21/02/2023
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