Toyota's ammonia engine: A potential game-changer for electric cars?
Toyota's research division and the Chinese automotive company GAC Group have worked for years on developing an ammonia-powered engine that could be an alternative to electric propulsion. Will electric cars become a thing of the past thanks to this invention?
Experts emphasize that Toyota's management has long indicated that it is necessary to strive for emission reductions in the most efficient way rather than becoming an unwavering advocate of electrification at all costs. To this end, the Japanese company, in collaboration with the Chinese conglomerate Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC Group), has already invested about 8 billion CAD in efforts to implement ammonia combustion engine technology for mass production.
A new type of engine. Are electric cars being replaced?
The prototype of this engine, unveiled in 2023, prompted Toyota President Koji Sato to declare, "Our ammonia engine marks the end of electric cars." Experts note that this is a bold statement, but it wasn't made lightly, as work on this technology continues—reports moto.pl.
The technology has potential downsides. One of the main advantages of ammonia-powered engines is the ability to adapt existing car models without fundamentally changing their design. It only requires adjusting the engines to burn this fuel, which poses a challenge, including achieving a high compression ratio of the fuel-air mixture.
Electric cars gaining popularity
Electric cars are becoming increasingly popular. The largest producer of these vehicles is China. In 2023, their global export in this segment surged by 70%, reaching a value of about 46 billion CAD. The European Union accounts for nearly 40% of China's electric vehicle exports, making it their largest importer.
In 2023, even one in four electric cars sold in the European Union came from China. Experts cited by the agency indicate that the EU's persistent trade deficit with China, exceeding approximately 540 billion CAD annually, is mainly due to unequal mutual market access and Beijing's unfair practices, including extensive government subsidies.
