The 2.0-liter engine produces 161 horsepower and emits 90% fewer carbon emissions compared to its gas-powered counterpart.
Chinese state-owned manufacturer GAC Group, which is half owned by Toyota Motor Corporation, has developed the world's first ammonia-powered engine for passenger vehicles.
The company claims this revolutionary 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine produces 161 horsepower and reduces carbon emissions by 90%. Revealed at a technology presentation, the company claims it has had to overcome several issues during development, including an increase in combustion pressure and excess nitrogen emissions, reports Autocar.
“We’ve overcome the pain point of ammonia being difficult to burn quickly and put the fuel to use in the passenger car industry,” said Qi Hongzhong, an engineer at the GAC R&D center. “Its value to society and for commercial uses are worth anticipating.”
Several entities are looking into ammonia as a low-carbon fuel, but there are problems to overcome. Not only is it more difficult to ignite than traditional fossil fuels, but it also burns slower.
With this in mind, it won't be easy for automakers to adopt ammonia-powered engines without further development. Even if we don't see it anytime soon, it's encouraging to see the potential for a clean-burning combustion engine is there.
Toyota owns a significant chunk of GAC. The Japanese carmaker has taken a unique approach to emissions-free motoring and believes this can be achieved through a mix of alternative fuels and regular electric vehicles. Aside from hydrogen fuel-cell-powered vehicles such as the Mirai, Toyota is also developing hydrogen-powered combustion engines, a technology it is evaluating through various motorsport exploits.
There's a strong possibility that Toyota may want to adopt ammonia-fueled powerplants in China and offer it in other markets as the tech evolves. Approximately 80% of ammonia is currently used by the agricultural industry as fertilizer. It's also used in the manufacturing of explosives, dyes, plastics, and various chemicals, so it's readily available.
China has one of the biggest EV markets in the world, but there's still strong demand for combustion-engined vehicles. However, various reports suggest the government is looking into banning the sales of traditional ICE cars, as is the case in California.
Alternative fuel – be it hydrogen, ammonia, synthetic, or something else – could provide the combustion engine with a stay of execution. These vehicles could someday be cheaper to build than their fully electric counterparts, providing the greater majority of consumers with a truly eco-friendly option that is also more convenient.
Toyota enjoys great popularity in China and has even developed EVs specifically for this market, but the company is clearly committed to taking a holistic approach and catering to all types of buyers. It will be interesting to see whether this ammonia-powered engine makes it to market and, if so, whether it will be offered globally.
Keyword: Toyota's GAC Reveals Ammonia-Powered Engine 90% Cleaner Than Gas