Yamaha Motor will be exhibiting a prototype hydrogen-powered outboard engine at the Miami International Boat Show, 14 to 18 February 2024 in Miami, Florida.

Marine products run through water and are thus subjected to water resistance, requiring significantly more energy for propulsion than land vehicles. In a briefing on Yamaha Motor’s marine technology, Heiji Maruyama, Director and Managing Executive Officer noted that the energy required to achieve electrification in the marine sector is 10 times that required for mobility on land. Further, with current technology, the energy density of batteries is much lower than that of gasoline.

Additionally, the performance and engineering requirements for marine products can vary widely depending on the usage environment—such as the ocean, rivers, or lakes—as well as the usage itself, from commercial fishing to recreation.

To achieve carbon neutrality with marine products while facing such challenges, Yamaha is promoting a multi-directional development approach, looking to other new energy sources and technologies in addition to its electrification efforts.

Yamaha has set a companywide environmental goal to achieve carbon neutrality in Scope 3 emissions by 2050.