New Yanmar Toyota fuel cell system for boats

This is big news. The Yanmar Toyota fuel cell collaboration brings together two world leaders in boat engines and hydrogen fuel cell systems for cars.

Yanmar was founded in 1912 by Magokichi Yamaoka and in 1933 the company introduced the first compact diesel engine of a practical size. It is now one of the leading manufacturers of diesel engines in the world.

Toyota, of course, is one of the world’s largest auto manufacturers, the global leader in sales of electric hybrid vehicles and a leader in hydrogen fuel cell technology not only for cars, but increasingly for boats. They recently installed their system on the Energy Observer research vessel, which is circumnavigating the globe using zero-emission wind, solar and hydrogen power.

In 2016 they announced a wide-ranging agreement to collaborate on technical development, production, and mutual parts use in the marine industry.

Now the companies have issued this press release. We don’t usually like to just publish a Press Release verbatim, but this is all that is known about their project right now. We will keep you updated.

News Release June 4, 2020 YANMAR HOLDINGS CO., LTD.

Osaka, Japan (May 12, 2020) – Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd. and its subsidiary Yanmar Power Technology Co., Ltd. have announced the development of a hydrogen fuel cell system for maritime applications based on fuel cell technology for automobiles, as part of efforts to offer environment-friendly powertrain solutions.

With the International Maritime Organization announcing a strategy to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to zero by the end of this century, marine environmental regulations have been tightened worldwide and the implementation of emission control areas has begun to have an effect on ship operations.

To date, Yanmar has successfully addressed the various regional demands for emission control regulations by developing dual-fuel engines (engines that can be used with both Liquefied NaturalGas (LNG) and diesel fuel) and ever cleaner diesel engine technologies. The next challenge is to develop non-fossil fuel powertrains.

As a part of this challenge, Yanmar has been working on development of future powertrains using hydrogen as fuel.

Yanmar Toyota fuel cell demonstration test in 2020

The company has signed a memorandum of understanding with Toyota Motor Corporation to develop a hydrogen fuel cell system for maritime applications based on hydrogen fuel cell system components including high pressure hydrogen tanks on MIRAI, a hydrogen fuel cell automobile manufactured by Toyota.

With a view to realizing an easily installable module with superior cruising range, Yanmar aims to install the maritime fuel cell system on its own boat and start a field demonstration test by the end of FY2020. Furthermore, the company plans to expand the technology for a variety of applications and deployments.