Yamaha: Hydrogen V8 for Toyota

Yamaha has developed a V8 engine on behalf of Toyota that uses hydrogen as fuel for combustion – this is therefore not a fuel cell and thus not an electric propulsion system, but a conventional "combustion engine". The 5.0-liter V8 is based on the equally sized gasoline engine of the Lexus RC F. To use hydrogen as fuel, Yamaha has modified the injection system and adapted the cylinder heads and intake manifolds. This hydrogen V8 is expected to deliver up to 450 PS at 6,800 rpm and a maximum of 540 Nm torque at 3,600 rpm. For comparison: The gasoline engine in the Lexus produces 464 PS at 7,100 rpm and 520 Nm at 4,800 rpm – meaning there are no power gains to be realized in terms of output.

Yoshihiro Hidaka, President of Yamaha Motor, explains:

"Motor is in our company name, and accordingly, we have a great passion for the internal combustion engine. Hydrogen engines have the potential to be CO2-neutral while maintaining our passion for the internal combustion engine alive."

The hydrogen combustion engine runs CO2-neutral and is expected to offer further potential in the future: Combustion occurs faster than in comparable gasoline engines, which should lead to significantly better responsiveness and reduced vibrations. This should increase the feedback on throttle input, while naturally preserving the characteristic sound of the V8. Where the new hydrogen V8 might be used, the Japanese have not yet revealed. However, the setup looks like a racing vehicle, although the performance would be rather modest for such an application.

Toyota itself has already converted a three-cylinder turbo engine in the Yaris GR to hydrogen operation and remains loyal to the fuel cell in the Mirai. Yamaha, on the other hand, aims to achieve CO2 neutrality by 2050.

What does that mean?

Why Yamaha is now developing the V8 for Toyota is not entirely clear to outsiders, although Yamaha has repeatedly developed racing engines in addition to motorcycles and marine engines. Whether a hydrogen V8 internal combustion engine really has a great future remains to be seen: "Green" hydrogen can only be generated from excess energy, which reduces the efficiency, which is not outstanding in internal combustion engines anyway. It will be interesting to see what blossoms this Japanese engine cooperation will bring in the future.