Toyota and Yamaha developing hydrogen-powered V8

Last week, we learnt Toyota is in the early stages of designing a manual transmission for electric vehicles to preserve the art of stick shift from being phased out completely.

Now it seems they are looking to save another important part of car culture at risk of extinction – the combustion engine.

To achieve this, Toyota has commissioned Yamaha to develop a V8 that runs exclusively on hydrogen.

If successful, the hydro-V8 could mean the euphoric growl of an internal combustion engine stays around for a little bit longer.

And that’s a big if. The engine, which is based on the 5.0-litre V8 found in the Lexus RC F, will by no means be production-ready anytime soon. 

Still, Yamaha says the motor can produce 330kW at 6,800 rpm. Plus, hydrogen engines hum a note surprisingly close to that of a standard combustion engine.

“Hydrogen engines house the potential to be carbon neutral while keeping our passion for the internal combustion engine alive at the same time,” Yamaha’s President Yoshihiro Hidaka said.

The engine is part of their ambition to continue investing in sustainable ICE technology. Yamaha, Toyota, Mazda and Subaru are all committed to developing suitable crude oil replacements for the ICE.

Toyota actually led the world in hybrid/electric technology. But since then, they have been hesitant to commit to a full-electric future. That’s despite revealing an onslaught of EV concepts last December.  

Kawasaki has also pledged itself to preserve the ICE and is working with Yamaha on a hydrogen motorbike engine.