Subaru Corporation, Toyota Motor Corporation, and Mazda Motor Corporation are teaming up to develop new engines compatible with carbon-neutral fuels.
The three companies made the announcement during an event called the “Multipathway Workshop.” A press release said the companies view “carbon as the enemy” and that their engines will play a role in achieving carbon neutrality.
There will be multiple parts of this process. The three companies will try to make engines more compact and will try to better integrate the electric drive units and batteries. Achieving this will help the companies lower the hoods on their respective vehicles, improve aerodynamics, and improve fuel efficiency.
Mazda, Subaru, and Toyota will aim to shift away from fossil fuels with the new engines developed through this collaboration. The engines will be compatible with alternative fuel sources such as e-fuel (synthetic fuel), biofuels, and liquid hydrogen.
We will continue to offer customers exciting cars by honing internal combustion engines for the electrification era and expanding the multi-pathway possibilities for achieving carbon neutrality,” said Masahiro Moro, Representative Director, President and CEO, Mazda Motor Corporation.
“Given the rotary engine’s compatibility with electrification and carbon-neutral fuels, Mazda will continue to develop the technology through co-creation and competition to ensure it can contribute broadly to society.”
Mazda, Subaru, and Toyota will engage in ‘friendly competition’
The three companies will continue to collaborate, but they will work on separate engines. They will collaborate through competition.
Mazda will focus on developing rotary EV systems. According to Car and Driver, these will feature either one or two rotors.
Toyota will develop two separate four-cylinder engines. One will be a 1.5-liter engine and the other will be a 2.0-liter engine.
Subaru will work on its next generation of boxer engines. This generation will feature a hybrid system.
“In order to provide our customers with diverse options to achieve carbon neutrality, it is necessary to take on the challenge of evolving engines that are in tune with the energy environment of the future,” said Koji Sato, President, Member of the Board of Directors and CEO, Toyota Motor Corporation.
“The three companies, which share the same aspirations, will refine engine technologies through friendly competition.”