New ammonia-powered engine developed by Toyota & GAC claims 90% less CO2 emissions

RahulNagaraj · 7th July 2023, 16:21

Chinese automaker GAC, in conjunction with Toyota, is said to have developed an internal combustion engine that runs on liquid ammonia.

According to reports, the new IC engine is a 2.0-litre unit capable of producing 161 BHP, with claims of emitting up to 90% less carbon dioxide compared to an equivalent petrol-powered engine.

New ammonia-powered engine developed by Toyota & GAC claims 90% less CO2 emissions-gac.jpg

While internal combustion engines running on ammonia have already been explored as an alternate fuel in the trucking and shipping industries, it is the first time ammonia has been explored for passenger cars. Reports state that while ammonia has half the energy density of petrol, it doesn't emit carbon, hydrocarbons or CO2 when burnt.

Having said that, using ammonia does come with its risks. Ammonia would emit a lot of nitrogen in an engine which doesn't have a high compression ratio, and also the fact that constant exposure to it can be fatal to humans.

While GAC is yet to confirm whether it actually intends to make production cars powered by ammonia, BloombergNEF analyst Colin McKerracher is confident the idea won't take off.

Source: Autocar UK

Link to Team-BHP news

ohaak · 7th July 2023, 19:06

Ammonia causes

1. Respiratory system damage
2. Ocular damage
3. Skin burns
4. Toxicity if ingested
5. Disruption of aquatic life by damaging fish gills.
6. Soil and Plant health damage by affecting the pH values

The compressed liquid form is extremely dangerous. Ice factories used to have Ammonia based compressors for cooling. Deaths due to leaks and explosions motivated the industry to move towards less fatal refrigerants.

SKC-auto · 7th July 2023, 19:39

Looks like Toyota has created one more science project. Time for Youtubers to create "This Toyota engine will kill EVs" videos.

As Ohaak pointed, why would we go back to times when we had highly poisonous leaded fuels.

Hayek · 10th July 2023, 06:52

An incredibly stupid idea. Ammonia is extremely poisonous - not just inflammable. No one is going to set up an Ammonia distribution system. Yes, Ammonia is seen as an alternative to allow shipping of green hydrogen from production locations to consumption locations. But that is with production and shipping in highly controlled environments.

All these attempts at creating a whole new infrastructure to keep using ICE engines seem certain to fail. Toyota seems to be adopting a conscious strategy of coming up with a new bauble to try and distract from the fact that they have failed miserably to compete in battery powered vehicles. Add that to their willingness to put their brand on Suzuki made death traps in India, and it makes it painfully obvious that it is a company that has lost its way. Sad!

7th July 2023, 16:21	#1
RahulNagaraj Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,380 Thanked: 22,721 Times	New ammonia-powered engine developed by Toyota & GAC claims 90% less CO2 emissions Chinese automaker GAC, in conjunction with Toyota, is said to have developed an internal combustion engine that runs on liquid ammonia. According to reports, the new IC engine is a 2.0-litre unit capable of producing 161 BHP, with claims of emitting up to 90% less carbon dioxide compared to an equivalent petrol-powered engine. While internal combustion engines running on ammonia have already been explored as an alternate fuel in the trucking and shipping industries, it is the first time ammonia has been explored for passenger cars. Reports state that while ammonia has half the energy density of petrol, it doesn't emit carbon, hydrocarbons or CO2 when burnt. Having said that, using ammonia does come with its risks. Ammonia would emit a lot of nitrogen in an engine which doesn't have a high compression ratio, and also the fact that constant exposure to it can be fatal to humans. While GAC is yet to confirm whether it actually intends to make production cars powered by ammonia, BloombergNEF analyst Colin McKerracher is confident the idea won't take off. Source: Autocar UK Link to Team-BHP news Last edited by RahulNagaraj : 7th July 2023 at 16:23.
	(9) Thanks

7th July 2023, 19:06	#2
ohaak BHPian Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Pune Posts: 217 Thanked: 458 Times	Re: New ammonia-powered engine developed by Toyota & GAC claims 90% less CO2 emissions Ammonia causes 1. Respiratory system damage 2. Ocular damage 3. Skin burns 4. Toxicity if ingested 5. Disruption of aquatic life by damaging fish gills. 6. Soil and Plant health damage by affecting the pH values The compressed liquid form is extremely dangerous. Ice factories used to have Ammonia based compressors for cooling. Deaths due to leaks and explosions motivated the industry to move towards less fatal refrigerants.
	(17) Thanks

7th July 2023, 19:39	#3
SKC-auto Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: KA01/AP31 Posts: 1,254 Thanked: 3,718 Times	Re: New ammonia-powered engine developed by Toyota & GAC claims 90% less CO2 emissions Looks like Toyota has created one more science project. Time for Youtubers to create "This Toyota engine will kill EVs" videos. As Ohaak pointed, why would we go back to times when we had highly poisonous leaded fuels.
	(25) Thanks

10th July 2023, 06:52	#4
Hayek Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Bombay Posts: 1,947 Thanked: 15,894 Times	Re: New ammonia-powered engine developed by Toyota & GAC claims 90% less CO2 emissions An incredibly stupid idea. Ammonia is extremely poisonous - not just inflammable. No one is going to set up an Ammonia distribution system. Yes, Ammonia is seen as an alternative to allow shipping of green hydrogen from production locations to consumption locations. But that is with production and shipping in highly controlled environments. All these attempts at creating a whole new infrastructure to keep using ICE engines seem certain to fail. Toyota seems to be adopting a conscious strategy of coming up with a new bauble to try and distract from the fact that they have failed miserably to compete in battery powered vehicles. Add that to their willingness to put their brand on Suzuki made death traps in India, and it makes it painfully obvious that it is a company that has lost its way. Sad!
	(2) Thanks