Over the years, Toyota has been on a journey to create a more sustainable and cleaner mode of transportation. They have been persistently investigating alternative energy sources and are developing some interesting electric vehicles (EV) and have recently made progress with the ammonia engine that is shifting the path of the EV evolution.
The shift towards ammonia engines
A recent collaboration with China’s GAC Group has brought the Japanese car company further away from battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and back towards fuel engines, with ammonia being a fuel source. As innovative as this concept may be, some are skeptical as to whether or not ammonia engines will be viable for vehicles.
The GAC claimed in their recent press release that their prototype ammonia engine stands out because it emits 90% less carbon dioxide in comparison to an engine that runs on fossil fuels while delivering almost the same power and capacity.
What is an Ammonia Engine?
An ammonia engine uses ammonia as a primary fuel source, comprising one nitrogen atom and three hydrogen atoms. Why use ammonia instead of fossil fuel? The main benefit is that no carbon dioxide is emitted, which is great for the environment.
There are two main types of ammonia engines: spark-ignition engines and compression-ignition engines.
- Spark-Ignition Engines: Similar to gasoline engines ignite the fuel-air mixture with a spark,
- Compression-Ignition Engines: These engines increase the temperature of the fuel-air mixture through compression, leading to spontaneous ignition.
How to take advantage of ammonia engines’ power
There are many ways ammonia engines can operate efficiently. Here are some of those approaches:
- Pure Ammonia Approach: where ammonia is the main fuel and is burned using cutting-edge technologies.
- Breakdown Approach: This approach can break down ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen. As demonstrated by startups like Amgoy, the former power of the fuel cell will generate electricity.
- Combination Approach: This is when different strategies or methods utilize ammonia in a combined or integrated manner. One example is the MAN Energy Solutions, which blends ammonia with fuels like diesel or gas, facilitating sustained combustion.
With ammonia as fuel, it produces almost no C02 which means we could have a completely emission-free vehicle. Yet this engine isn’t 100% environmentally friendly. Ammonia-fueled engines do release exhaust gases such as unburned ammonia, nitrous oxide(N20), and nitrogen oxides (NOx), which are unhealthy.
Ammonia engine advancement has only just begun
While there are still some flaws in the design, the ammonia engine claims to be efficient for storage and transportation. Its high energy density makes it suitable for the transportation and power generation sectors. In addition to allowing easy storage, these engines pack power, too. These machines are capable of delivering 161 horsepower from a 2.0-liter engine while cutting carbon emissions by nearly 90%
Even with the positive features of an ammonia engine, they are still not developed enough to compete in the EV market. Even Porsche e-fuels, which cost about $45 per gallon( 10 euros per liter), are more economical than an ammonia engine.
Additionally, it seems that liquid ammonia may be unfeasible as an e-fuel substitute right now because it releases a significant amount of nitrogen into the environment when it combusts. Despite this fact, Toyota and GAC remain confident. The companies have a clever group of engineers, a know-how attitude, and the advanced technology to overcome their current challenges and future problems.
With many of the adverse features of liquid ammonia, plus the warning signs, it’s not an immediate alternative to fuel engines. However, innovation takes time, and while the ammonia engine may not be a perfect solution yet, there are still changes. It will be a reliable source in the future.