The “Environmental Plan 2050” has been renewed to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050
Senior Executive Officer and Director, Chief General Manager of the Technical Research & Development Center, Environment Committee Chairperson
In 2009, we drew up the “Yamaha Motor Group Environmental Plan 2020” to promote the transition from 2-stroke to 4-stroke engines, etc. Since 2018, we’ve been trying to evolve and accelerate our environmental efforts under the “Yamaha Motor Group Environmental Plan 2050.”
However, in recent years a number of countries and regions have started to set a goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 (hereinafter referred to as CN) as a measure against climate change. In Japan too Prime Minister Suga declared in October 2020 that Japan would make efforts to cut overall greenhouse gas emissions to zero to realize a carbon-neutral, carbon-free society by 2050. As you may already know his statement attracted further public attention.
Many of you may have recently seen the news that serious air pollution in emerging economies was mitigated by the slowdown in economic activities due to lockdowns in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. I think that this is also one of the factors that has raised people’s environmental awareness.
In every industry an increasing number of customers prefer environmentally conscious products such as those made from recycled materials. This trend will undoubtedly grow in the future and the Japan Four-wheeler Manufacturers Association also announced that it would do its utmost to achieve CN by 2050. As shown in Fig. 1, the amount of CO2 emitted from two-wheelers is only about one-third that from four-wheelers, and our products account only for 0.06% of global CO2 emissions (according to our research). But in order to align with global trends, we have revised our Environmental Plan and clarified our new initiatives and attitudes as the new “Environmental Plan 2050.”
Source: IEA「CO2 Emissions from Fuel Combustion 2020 Highlights」
Cycle 4-wheeler vs. 2-wheeler
The Environmental Plan announced in 2018 set a goal of 50% reductions in CO2 emissions and resource use during product use, production and distribution by 2050 compared to 2010 levels. We were making steady progress toward our previous target by reducing emissions by 41% from our factories and business units in less than three years.
However, in order to respond to the accelerating moves of governments and manufacturers and changes in customers’ awareness, we have raised our goal to aim for CN by 2050 throughout product life cycles. As we are developing and producing a wide range of products, we are now deepening discussions on how to set a goal for each business unit and each center. With science and technology advancing day by day, entirely new methods will probably emerge by 2050. The first thing we should do is to set a solid goal and then verify and revise it every year so that we can achieve our goal by 2050.
As shown in Figure 2, one of our paths to achieving our goal is personal compact mobility vehicles with lower CO2 emissions. Our compact mobility vehicle produces less CO2 throughout its life cycle, which consists of the following three stages: acquiring raw materials and producing products; using the products; and finally disposing of the products such as recycling them. Taking the advantage of lower emissions, it’s possible to further reduce CO2 by encouraging customers to shift to smaller vehicles such as switching from four-wheelers to two-wheelers and two-wheelers to Electrically Power Assisted Bicycles “PAS.” However, there is no point in encouraging them to do so if it compromises safety or is less convenient. I believe it’s important to cultivate a new market between four-wheelers and two-wheelers and between two-wheelers and bicycles and to develop and offer safe vehicle that not just cuts CO2 emissions, but also “Revs” our customers.
In addition, it is also necessary to replace the power sources that drive vehicles with those emitting no CO2.
| Main propulsion | Applicable technology | Effect | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICE (Internal combustion engine) |
Improved efficiency in engine and drivetrain | Improved fuel economy | |
| HEV (Hybrid electric vehicle) (S-HEV uses a motor for main propulsion) |
|||
| Carbon free fuel | Synthetic liquid fuel | Carbon free | |
| Hydrogen | |||
| Motor | BEV (Battery electric vehicle) | ||
| FCV (Fuel cell vehicle) | |||
product groups (MC, outboard engines, industrial robots, etc.)
As shown in Fig. 3, two-wheelers account for 65% of the CO2 emissions from our products followed by outboard engines. Further improvements in fuel economy and reductions in CO2 emissions represent the biggest challenges for outboard engines which are subject to water resistance. As the transition to BEVs requires a substantial increase in battery weight, we believe we can find solutions in hydrogen fuel cells, and the development of hydrogen-fueled engines and the use of synthetic liquid fuels. We would like to move forward our approach to new technologies by constantly examining them so that no disadvantages or inconveniences will be experienced by our customers.
It’s important to curb the generation of exhaust gases and CO2 as much as possible from RVs that are used in nature. We are currently exploring the possibility of products using hydrogen fuel cells, synthetic liquid fuels and BEVs.
For golf cars and new low-speed mobility vehicles using golf-car-related technologies, their product ranges are already shifting from gasoline engines to BEVs and it is necessary to accelerate this shift further.
Don’t forget battery-assisted bicycles such as “PAS.” The addition of battery assistance to bicycles expands the scope of users’ activities and an increasing number of people are using them around the world. We are planning to further broaden the area of such human- and electric-powered hybrid vehicles.
Although FRP products such as boats generate no CO2 emissions in use, the challenge with them is how to reduce CO2 in the production and recycling stages. I think it will be necessary to pursue technologies that emit as little CO2 as possible when recycling FRPs.
Among our wide range of products some may be suitable for BEVs and others for hydrogen fuel cells which generate electrical energy through the chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to power a motor. By 2050 it may also be possible to use biofuels and carbon-free synthetic liquid fuels produced from hydrogen and CO2 which are now drawing attention as the latest technology.
With a view to these various possibilities, we are currently preparing for technologies when they become available. Global trends and technologies are showing rapid progress but there are some differences in regions and countries. To reduce CO2 emissions effectively while coping well with such differences, I think it’s important to increase the options available as much as possible without limiting ourselves to only one solution such as BEVs. For this reason, we have decided to: “Set a definite goal for each business unit and revise it every year,” before proceeding with the new “Environmental Plan 2050.” With close attention being constantly paid to ever-evolving and developing technologies, we will move toward our goals while making modifications to our original plans.
It is said that BEVs will not contribute to reducing CO2 emissions as much as expected because most of the power sources for charging in Japan are not derived from renewable energy. Simply replacing power sources with BEVs will not cut CO2 emissions to zero, so it’s necessary to consider how electricity is produced and global trends.
CO2 emissions from our business activities which are described in Scope 1 and 2 in the “Definition of Scope” stand at 1.8% of the total. Despite the low ratio it’s a topic of interest among our investors and international research organizations and thus it’s important to make continuous efforts. We have shown some successful results by consolidating factories, promoting energy-saving measures and installing solar panels in factories such as in India and we’ll keep proceeding with further measures.
Scope 3 includes various items. Regarding the use of products which accounts for most of Scope 3 we will promptly and appropriately push forward with the measures I have so far mentioned. As for the procurement of raw materials related to our business partners, we are planning to start cooperating with them through an introduction of our previous approaches in view of the circumstances of each country. Also, regarding your commuting and business trips I think it’s necessary to explore the best balance between the importance of face-to-face communication and the efficiency improvements from teleworking which has been encouraged due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Realization of CN depends not only on the direction of production activities and product development but also on all corporate activities. It’s important to recognize it correctly and accept it as your own business and move forward through brainstorming.
The world is flooded with information about CN. There is also some misleading information that internal combustion engine technologies will become obsolete immediately due to the transition to BEVs which makes some people lose confidence and develop a sense of crisis for the future. But as I said, science and technology keep developing. Internal combustion engines may recapture the spotlight if new technologies such as synthetic liquid fuels are put into practical use. You don’t have to abandon what you are good at and it’s important to continue to hone your skills as long as they can be utilized. Some of the skills you have acquired through engine development can be applied to developing electrical systems.
Looking back on human history, in each era people have faced and overcome major challenges in collaboration with science and technology. What’s important now is to have an unshakable belief that you can also overcome the challenge of CN. It’s also important to take it as an opportunity to create something new and work proactively. Creating “more enjoyable mobility” that makes people happy as well as complies with environmental restrictions is a highly rewarding task. I hope you will enjoy the challenge and engage in putting excellent products out into the global market.
More detail at Overview of "Yamaha Motor Group Environmental Plan 2050"
