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Yamaha is anticipated to ramp up its hydrogen initiatives in the near future

Yamaha’s President and CEO, Yoshihiro Hidaka, sees a lot of potential in hydrogen as the internal combustion engine’s saving grace.

EJ Punsalang EJ Punsalang on Jul 17, 2023
Yamaha anticipated to ramp up its hydrogen initiatives

It is widely accepted in both the automotive and motorcycle industries that electric vehicles are seen as the future. This trend is particularly noticeable in the two-wheeler sector, as the European and Asian markets have witnessed a significant increase in the availability of electric motorbikes and scooters. However, despite this prevailing sentiment, Yamaha holds a different perspective. While the Japanese company is actively involved in the electric vehicle domain, it maintains an open-minded approach towards future possibilities. Yamaha recognizes the importance of electric powertrains and battery technology development but also concurrently invests efforts into its e-fuel program. 

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"We would like to keep many possibilities — opportunities — to achieve carbon neutrality.”
Yoshihiro Hidaka
Yamaha President and CEO
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According to a report by Japan Times, Yamaha's President and CEO, Yoshihiro Hidaka, highlighted the company's diverse strategy in exploring alternatives to traditional gasoline internal combustion engines. One of the avenues being considered is hydrogen. Despite the growing popularity of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), Yamaha acknowledges the potential of hydrogen as a viable option. While hydrogen electric cars, such as the Toyota Mirai, already exist and have been in production for a while, Yamaha's focus on hydrogen power lies in preserving the internal combustion engine.

Yamaha has previous experience with hydrogen-powered combustion engines, having collaborated with Toyota to develop the engine for the world's first liquid-cooled hydrogen race car. In May 2023, the Toyota Corolla H2 Concept made history by participating in and successfully completing a 24-hour endurance event at the Fuji International Speedway. This achievement not only represented a significant milestone for the automotive industry but also made a noteworthy impact in the realm of motorsports.

"Among Japan’s two-wheeler manufacturers, there were hardly any testing hydrogen in addition to electric technology, so we took the lead and built the facility to test battery technology and hydrogen, as well as carbon-neutral fuel."
Yoshihiro Hidaka
Yamaha President and CEO

Undoubtedly, Japan's automotive industry holds a prominent position as one of the largest and most influential globally. With a substantial local workforce of 5.5 million people, companies like Yamaha, alongside other significant players in the car and motorcycle sectors, have the potential to shape the future of mobility. Yamaha, known for its dedication to innovation and technology, has consistently been at the forefront of advancing new ideas and pushing the boundaries in the industry.

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