Naturally, many challenges remain, not least increasing the number of hydrogen stations.

To sustain stable operations, CJPT estimates that a single station requires 70 tonnes of hydrogen annually.

This is equal to the amount of fuel needed by convenience store delivery trucks in a city of 300,000 people if they were all replaced with FCEVs.

In a city of that size, switching all municipal vehicles—ambulances, meal delivery trucks, garbage collection trucks, community buses—to FCEVs would require eight stations’ worth of hydrogen.

“At that level, we’ve found that passenger cars also benefit considerably,” says Vice President Nakajima.

CV Company Chief Engineer Hirofumi Ota also emphasized the importance of the B to G approach, saying, “In certain realms, carmakers cannot go it alone. It’s vital that we combine our efforts with local governments that endorse our vision.”

The liquid hydrogen Corolla continues to evolve with each race. Keeping pace with this progress are Toyota’s efforts to create a hydrogen society with local governments and other partners.

When venturing into unknown territory in an uncertain age, every result provides invaluable data, which holds the key to bringing about a future hydrogen society.

As Morizo, Chairman Akio Toyoda has continued to get behind the wheel on the racetrack. When asked about the relationship between motorsport-driven car development and Toyota’s hydrogen efforts, he shared the following words:

“Motorsport is a laboratory that anyone can peek into. There are many stakeholders competing against each other. What we’re doing has no right answers and ordinarily no deadlines either. But without deadlines, you don’t make progress. In motorsports, each race sets a deadline, spurring agile development. To create a hydrogen society, we need to make it easier for everyone to get involved.”

This is about more than making cars—together with motorsport fans and car lovers, Toyota is paving the road toward a hydrogen future.