New Developments
The latest on Yamaha Motor’s technical R&D
From our RDD&D （Research, Development, Demonstration, and Deployment）
Creating a truly sustainable society requires us to identify and narrow down the medium- to long-term challenges and repeatedly pursue and trial solutions for them, thereby building up experience and a track record to rely on. The importance of achieving carbon neutrality only continues to grow in the realms of manufacturing technology and personal mobility as well.
Yamaha Motor has set a goal of reducing its CO2 emissions by 86% or more compared to 2024 levels and incorporating carbon offsets into its efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
CO2 emissions from the use of sold products* currently make up 94.1% of Yamaha Motor’s total emissions. Given that fact, Yamaha Motor believes that a multi-pathway approach is the most effective means to achieve carbon neutrality, where we roll out technologies and products aligned with the energy and socioeconomic circumstances specific to each region.
**Category 11 Use of Sold Products under Scope 3 of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, which sets international standards for measuring and managing emissions.
With the spread of zero-emission power generation utilizing renewable energy sources, energy mixes vary depending on the region. From the development of carbon-neutral fuels like hydrogen and bioethanol, and the costs and infrastructure for supplying them in sufficient volumes, to complying with various regulations and government policies, flexible responses to adapt to the eye-watering pace of changes in the external environment have become necessary.
A Multi-Pathway Approach to Flexibly Address Real-World Challenges
Carbon neutrality can only be achieved through measures based on life cycle assessment (LCA), which evaluates the impact of CO2 emissions for a product across its entire life cycle, from raw material procurement and transport to its manufacture, use, and eventual disposal.
For example, suppose a product produces zero emissions when used by its owner. If an LCA indicates that the product actually produces more CO2 emissions across its lifetime, then in reality, that product is actually only making the overall situation worse.
Yamaha Motor believes the choice bringing the greatest societal gains and boons to user convenience is a multi-pathway approach that selects the type of fuels and powertrains best suited to the different energy mixes, future roadmaps, and policies of each region and market. Based on this recognition, Yamaha Motor is promoting the development and verification of technologies that will realize realistic and smart energy management that will lead to the realization of carbon neutrality throughout society.
Electric Power: Motorcycles (SPHEV / PHEV / BEV)
When it comes to electrification, we are moving forward with the R&D and testing of technologies and products from a variety of approaches in order to utilize the electrical energy provided/stored by batteries and generated by engines.
With motorcycles, Yamaha Motor is pursuing three different angles to better suit different user applications and market needs: series parallel hybrid EVs (SPHEVs) and plug-in hybrid EVs (PHEVs) that provide a combination of internal combustion engines, electric motors and external charging infrastructure, and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) that run on electric motors alone.
- A New Challenge in Electric Technology
—The Series Parallel Hybrid System - Yamaha Motor is making inroads into EV. The first step in this approach is the Series Parallel Hybrid designed for use in mid-size scooters.
- A New Challenge in Electric Technology
—The Plug-in Hybrid System - Here is the second in our series of Yamaha-style EVs with a plug-in hybrid system designed for use in our large motorcycles.
- Cutting-Edge Development via Racing: An Electric Trials Bike
- The main hurdles to making electric mobility more widespread are range, power and torque characteristics, weight reduction, and affordability. See how Yamaha Motor is conducting R&D and testing an electric trials bike through competition (released June 2023).
Electric Power: Other Mobility Products
In developing technologies for BEVs, Yamaha Motor is leveraging its decades of casting and heat management expertise accrued through internal combustion engine development to create electric motors featuring industry-leading output density. The Automotive Business Unit is also accepting commissions for developing prototype electric motors and other components intended for use in hyper-EVs.
Among its projects, Yamaha is developing connectable electric motors that are anticipated to help bring electrification to various different mobility sectors. These applications include electric marine vessels such as tugboats, railway rolling stock, and hybrid aircraft, the last of which is being spearheaded by national institutions conducting fundamental R&D toward use in the aerospace field.
- e-Axle: An Electric Motor Unit for Hyper-EVs
- This compact electric motor was developed for hyper-EVs, anticipating the installation of four or more units on one vehicle, and treats the mechanical and electrical components as a single entity, integrating the gear and inverter into one unit.
- Connectable Electric Motors for Aviation, Marine, and Other Mobility Applications
- In anticipation of use in hybrid aircraft and electric vessels like tugboats, this electric motor is designed to allow multiple units to be connected in series. A single unit achieves a rated output of 500 kW, with a quad-motor configuration delivering an incredible 2 MW in output.
Amid the growing practical deployment of drones for passenger transport and logistics—and rising expectations for technological solutions to overcome current limitations in batteries and charging infrastructure—Yamaha Motor is also engaged in R&D for range extenders. Drawing on its wealth of technology and expertise in compact, lightweight engines, these units use onboard power generation to dramatically extend cruising range.
Hydrogen Power (Hydrogen-Powered ICEs)
Hydrogen is increasingly viewed as a promising energy source for achieving carbon neutrality. Development aimed at broader utilization is progressing across many industries, from hydrogen production to the required supply infrastructure. In terms of powertrains, there are two main types—both of which emit no CO2 during use: hydrogen engines, which combust hydrogen instead of gasoline, and fuel cells, which generate electricity through a chemical between hydrogen and oxygen.
Yamaha Motor is moving forward with projects to transition mobility platforms to hydrogen by calling on its deep well of engine technologies and know-how, working together with partners across the entire supply chain.
- Engines Burning Hydrogen for Zero CO2 Emissions
- Using existing internal combustion engines, the fuel lines, injectors, spark plugs, etc., are all optimized for combusting hydrogen. There are expectations for these powertrains to not only help spread hydrogen-related infrastructure but also contribute from an industry sustainability perspective by finding new applications for its vast store of technologies.
- A Hydrogen-Powered ROV
- This off-road recreational vehicle keeps the unique joys of internal combustion engines relevant for the future. Yamaha collaborated with Lexus to conduct experiential programs and test drives for general customers on a dedicated off-road course. Development of the vehicle's fail-safes is also currently underway (as of 2025).
- A Hydrogen-Powered Golf Car
- Golf cars are now no longer only for getting around golf courses. In North America, they are also used as low-speed vehicles along dedicated routes/lanes in residential areas. A Yamaha golf car with a hydrogen engine (announced Jan. 2024) offers a third powertrain option alongside the traditional engine and all-electric versions.
- Hydrogen Outboard Motor
- Whether it is energy efficiency or cruising range, electrification in the marine industry presents high technical hurdles to clear. This outboard explores a different way to carbon neutrality on the water. Developed together with North American boatbuilder Regulator Marine, the outboard is fitted to a dedicated boat with three hydrogen tanks installed in the hull and is currently undergoing real-world testing (announced Nov. 2024).
Combustion Power (Converting Existing ICEs to Use Carbon-Neutral Fuels)
Small-displacement motorcycles have their own roles to play in transportation systems around the world, and under Yamaha Motor’s multi-pathway approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions as quickly as possible, bioethanol fuels—gasoline blended with plant-derived ethanol—are viewed as an indispensable element for achieving carbon neutrality with these machines.
Motorcycles capable of running on 100% ethanol fuel generate virtually zero CO2 emissions in use. Circumstances differ by region and country, but from an infrastructure standpoint, these fuels offer a clear advantage: they can be supplied through the same gas stations already in widespread operation. Moreover, the product supply chain and day-to-day convenience for users remain essentially the same as with today’s motorcycles.
Other Ongoing Mobility Projects
- Smart Agriculture through UGVs and Robotics
- Overcoming growing labor shortages in the agriculture industry is a challenge shared by numerous developed countries. Yamaha is putting its robotics expertise to work in developing an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) paired with an articulated robot arm capable of complex movements and actions. We are currently conducting field tests in order to automate harvesting and transport work and thereby contribute to labor savings.
- Industrial-Use Unmanned Helicopters Enabling Aerial Forestry Surveys
- Leveraging the advantages of our industrial-use unmanned helicopters, such as the usable range afforded by their small gasoline engines, makes it possible to perform aerial measurements and surveys to assess current conditions in remote mountainous forests and other areas otherwise difficult to reach on foot or with a drone. We are now offering services for conducting smarter forest management from the air.
