Photo/Illutration Kawasaki Motors Corp.’s hydrogen-powered motorcycle engine is tested on a four-wheel vehicle in Motegi, Tochigi Prefecture, on Sept. 4, 2022. (Kohei Kondo)

Four major Japanese motorcycle makers will piggyback their expertise to develop hydrogen-powered engines for bikes and other small mobility vehicles in a nod to a greener future. 

Yamaha Motor Co., Suzuki Motor Corp., Kawasaki Motors Corp. and Honda Motor Co. received approval from the industry ministry in May to form a joint research association.

The new organization, HySE (Hydrogen Small mobility & Engine technology), will be officially launched as early as June.

The four leading brands together account for half of the global motorcycle market.

Toyota Motor Corp., which is also developing a hydrogen-fueled engine, will support the association.

HySE will also invite other domestic and global manufacturers and suppliers, including new players in the industry, to join the association.

Virtually emitting no CO2, hydrogen-powered engines are expected to play a vital role in global efforts to create a decarbonized economy.

However, there are still many technical challenges, including combustion instabilities and limited fuel tank capacity, obstacles particularly difficult to overcome with smaller vehicles.

“We will combine our knowledge and technologies to accelerate research and development,” Yamaha President Yoshihiro Hidaka said at a news conference held in May.

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