Kawasaki Motors, Suzuki Motor Corporation, Honda Motor Co., Ltd., and Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. have jointly announced that they have received approval from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to form a research association called HySE (Hydrogen Small Mobility & Engine Technology). The purpose of this association is to develop hydrogen-powered engines for small vehicles.
Instead of relying on a single energy source, it is important to take a multifaceted approach to deal with the many problems in the transportation business if we want to live in a carbon-free society. In this situation, research and development on making commercially available cars with hydrogen-powered engines, which are seen as a next-generation energy source, is picking up speed.
However, the use of hydrogen as a fuel presents technical challenges such as fast flame speed and a large region of ignition, which can lead to unstable combustion. Additionally, there is limited fuel tank capacity for small vehicles. To overcome these challenges, the members of HySE are committed to conducting fundamental research. They will leverage their expertise and technologies in developing gasoline-powered engines to establish a design standard for hydrogen-powered engines in small vehicles and advance research in this field.
The members of HySE will continue to strengthen their collaboration to provide a range of small vehicle options that meet the diverse needs of users. This initiative will contribute to the realization of a decarbonized society.
The main research and development areas, as well as the roles of each company, are as follows:
Research on hydrogen-powered engines
- Honda: Model-based development of hydrogen-powered engines
- Suzuki: Study on the functionality, performance, and reliability of hydrogen-powered engines
- Yamaha Motor and Kawasaki Motors: Hands-on research using real hydrogen-powered engines to evaluate their functionality, performance, and reliability
Study on hydrogen refueling system
- Yamaha: Examination of requirements for a hydrogen refueling system and hydrogen tanks for small vehicles
Study on fuel supply system
- Kawasaki Motors: Investigation of auxiliary equipment and tanks required for a fuel supply system, as well as the equipment installed between the fuel tank and the injector
In addition to the four motorcycle manufacturers mentioned above, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. and Toyota Motor Corporation are supporting the association as special members. Kawasaki Heavy Industries, a key organizer of the “CO2-free Hydrogen Energy Supply-chain Technology Research Association” (HySTRA), will contribute its knowledge from HySTRA to drive HySE’s activities. Toyota, on the other hand, will utilize HySE’s research results to develop hydrogen-powered engines for four-wheel vehicles, drawing on its expertise in experiments, analyses, and designing large hydrogen-fueled power units.