The Japanese manufacturers have put their heads together. The “big four” have formed a joint research body, “HySE”, to develop hydrogen engines for small mobility to help build a low-carbon society.
Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Kawasaki Motors, Ltd. and Suzuki Motor Corporation jointly announced today that they have received approval from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to form a technology research association called HySE (Hydrogen Small mobility & Engine technology) for the development of hydrogen-powered engines for small mobility.
Achieving a low-carbon society requires a multi-path strategy to address different issues in the mobility sector, rather than focusing on a single source of energy. Against this background, research and development aimed at the commercialization of mobility with engines powered by hydrogen – considered a next-generation energy source – is gaining momentum.
However, the use of hydrogen poses technical challenges, including a high flame speed and large ignition area, often resulting in unstable combustion, and limited fuel tank capacity when used in small mobility vehicles.
In addressing these issues, HySE members are committed to conducting basic research, capitalizing on their wealth of expertise and technologies in developing gasoline engines, and aiming to work together with the shared mission to deliver a to establish design standards for the hydrogen-powered engine, and to advance fundamental research efforts in this area.
HySE members will continue to deepen their collaborative relationships to provide users with a variety of small mobility options and meet their diverse needs, thus contributing to the realization of a low-carbon society.
“We are very pleased to announce the planned formation of the association. There are many challenges in the development of hydrogen-powered engines, but we hope that the association’s activities promote fundamental research to meet those challenges. We are committed to this endeavor with a sense of mission to preserve the use of internal combustion engines, which embody the long-term efforts invested by our predecessors.”
Main research and development areas and the role of each company:
- Research into hydrogen engines
Research into the model-based development of hydrogen engines (Honda)
Elemental study into functionality, performance and reliability of the hydrogen engines (Suzuki)
- Hands-on research with real hydrogen engines into their functionality, performance and reliability (Yamaha, Kawasaki)
- Study on hydrogen tank system
Exploring the Requirements for a Hydrogen Refueling System and Small Mobility Hydrogen Tanks (Yamaha)
- Study on fuel delivery systems
Study of the auxiliary equipment required for a fuel supply system and tanks, and the equipment installed between the fuel tank and the injector (Kawasaki)
In addition to full members (the four motorcycle manufacturers mentioned above), Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. and Toyota Motor Corporation the association as special members.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, one of the main organizers of the CO2-free Hydrogen Energy Supply-chain Technology Research Association (HySTRA), will propel HySE’s activities based on the knowledge gained during the activities for HySTRA.
Toyota, on the other hand, will assume the role of maximizing HySE research results for the development of hydrogen-powered engines, drawing on its know-how in experimentation, analysis and design of large hydrogen-powered four-wheeled power units. vehicles.
– Thanks for information from Motorfreaks.