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If you’ve read this column very long you realize I have an interest in engines of the rotating and reciprocating varieties — those that burn energy-dense fuels and don’t require fuel tanks the size of a submarine
It’s increasingly apparent, however, there are those who would mandate this technology out of existence in the name of “climate change” despite plentiful evidence viable alternatives for heavy-duty off-road use are still far from economically feasible.
Because of this, when bright minds swim upstream “politically” to find ways to continue the use of pistons and proven engineering architecture, I’m all ears.
Toyota’s recent announcement of a prototype 4-cylinder internal combustion engine (ICE) that burns ammonia (NH3) directly — with NO carbon emissions — certainly “turns my crank,” so to speak.
The possibilities are great for agriculture which faces strong political head winds with its dominant use of diesel-fueled ICE powering most of the industry. Afterall, most farms have ready access to ammonia fertilizer, and the same anhydrous ammonia that corn plants love, can be a drop-in fuel for the new engine technology.
While Toyota has back-pedaled publicly on all-out battery electric vehicle (BEV) adoption, the legacy automaker has developed many EVs of its own, along with hydrogen-fueled vehicles sporting fuel cells. Like me, however, someone at Toyota apparently still loves ICE technology — $6 billion worth, the cost of development of the ammonia engine.
Working in conjunction with China’s GAC Motor, Toyota recently unveiled a 2.0 L 4-cylinder engine rated at 161 hp…