Not dead yet: Toyota and Yamaha are working on a hydrogen-powered V8

The V8 engine developed by Yamaha. (Image source: Yamaha)

Toyota has commissioned Yamaha Motor to develop and a 5-litre V8 engine that can run on hydrogen.

According to Yamaha, the 5-litre V8 would be based on the unit that powered the discontinued RC F coupe.

To make it run on hydrogen, Yamaha would need to tweak the engine's injectors, cylinder heads, intake manifold, fuel delivery system, and more.

The end result, however, is 449hp at 6800rpm and 540nm of torque from 3600rpm. That's very similar to the petrol-powered version.

Furthermore, Yamaha said that its engine gives off a "harmonic high-frequency exhaust note" – courtesy of its unusual 8-into-1 manifold.

Yoshihiro Hidaka, Yamaha Motor's President, said that while the company was aiming to become carbon neutral by 2050, it continues to have "a strong passion for" the internal combustion engine.

Hidaka said:

Hydrogen engines house the potential to be carbon-neutral while keeping our passion for the internal combustion engine alive at the same time.

That said, internal combustion engines that run on hydrogen aren't completely emissions-free. These types of engines still produce small amounts of carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide.

This is unlike hydrogen fuel cell cars, which uses hydrogen gas and oxygen to produce electric, which then drives an electric motor. These types of cars are said to be completely emissions-free because the only by-product of that process is water.

Source: Top Gear