Subaru, Toyota and Mazda are developing new, environmentally friendly engines

Subaru, Toyota and Mazda, which compete in the product arena with unique engines and cars, are working together to achieve carbon neutrality through a multi-pronged approach. Currently, each of the three Japanese companies has committed to developing new engines suited to electrification and moving towards carbon neutrality. For these engines, each of the three companies will seek to optimize integration with motors, batteries and other electric drive units.

These efforts, while transforming vehicle packaging into more compact engines, will also decarbonize ICE engines, making them compatible with a variety of carbon neutral (CN) fuels. CN fuels are fuels with net zero CO2 emissions to the atmosphere throughout their life cycle, from production to use. These include e-fuels produced from hydrogen and carbon dioxide, and biofuels obtained from biomass.

Subaru, Toyota and Mazda typically develop signature engines that not only represent their brands but also meet the unique needs and preferences of their customers. The Subaru has a horizontally opposed engine in which the pistons move horizontally, resulting in a low-profile engine with less vibration and a lower center of gravity. While Toyota is famous for its inline four-cylinder engine that achieves both high power and high thermal efficiency, Mazda’s rotary engine is a compact and lightweight, yet powerful unit.

L-R: Subaru CEO Atsushi Osaki, Toyota CEO Koji Sato and Mazda CEO Masahiro Moro during a May 28 joint statement.

Under extreme racing conditions, the three Japanese automakers worked to expand powertrain and fuel options as they competed with vehicles powered by liquid hydrogen and CN fuels.

This process clarified the role that future engines will play in achieving carbon neutrality. When creating the next generation of engines, the three companies will strive not only to improve the performance of stand-alone engines, but also to optimize their integration with electric drive units, leveraging the advantages of each.

The new engines, characterized by high efficiency and power, will also revolutionize vehicle packaging as they are more compact than existing models. Smaller engines will allow for even lower hoods, improving design options and aerodynamic performance while contributing to better fuel efficiency. The development will also place an emphasis on compliance with increasingly stringent emissions regulations.

At the same time, the new engines will be carbon neutral by moving away from fossil fuels and offering compatibility with a variety of alternatives, including e-fuel (synthetic fuel), biofuels and liquid hydrogen. In this way, these engines will contribute to the wider use of CN fuels.

Commenting on the partnership, Atsushi Osaki, Representative Director, President and CEO of Subaru Corporation, said: “Achieving a carbon neutral society is a challenge that must be met by all Japanese industry and society as a whole. As we continue to improve electrification technology, we will also improve our horizontally opposed engines to use carbon neutral fuels in the future. In the future, three companies sharing the same aspirations will continue to strive for sustainable excellence in Japanese car manufacturing.

Koji Sato, Chairman, Member of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Toyota Motor Corporation, commented: “To provide our customers with a variety of opportunities to achieve carbon neutrality, it is imperative that we address the challenge of evolving engines that are attuned to the energy environment of the future. Three Companies , which share the same aspirations, will improve engine technologies through friendly competition.

Masahiro Moro, Representative Director, President and CEO of Mazda Motor Corporation, said: “We will continue to offer customers exciting vehicles by refining internal combustion engines for the era of electrification and expanding multi-pronged opportunities to achieve carbon neutrality. Given the advantages of the Wankel engine’s compatibility with electrification and carbon-neutral fuels, Mazda will continue to develop this technology through co-creation and competition to ensure its broad contribution to society.”

Today’s announcement comes a day later ANDdemitsu Kosan, ENEOS, Toyota and MHI started research on carbon neutral fuelsin order to discuss and explore scenarios and plans for the introduction of carbon neutral fuels in the Japanese automotive market and the various systems necessary for the introduction to the market.

Main image: Toyota