Yamaha’s Speciale: “ABC An Opportunity for Advocacy and Building Coalitions”

"The American Boating Congress (ABC) provides opportunity for marine professionals to advocate for their industry on Capitol Hill; it's also a way to grow coalitions and build relationships with other industries and organizations pursing related initiatives," said Ben Speciale, President, Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit. "Yamaha and the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), together will grow the coalition focused on sustainable marine fuels and hydrogen by working with the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) during ABC."

This week, with the help of NMMA, Yamaha demonstrates its hydrogen powered golf car prototype and its sustainable marine fuel powered boats for board members of SEMA at the Washington Marina. Also engaged were members of the D.C.-based Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA), the primary trade association supporting hydrogen industries and development.

"By joining forces with SEMA, we have a bigger voice for the policy changes required to develop the infrastructure and distribution channels needed for consumers to actively use hydrogen and sustainable marine fuels." said Speciale.

On April 26, 2024, Yamaha gave the first demonstration of a hydrogen-powered golf car at the Yamaha Marine Innovation Center in Kennesaw, Ga., following a meeting of the Georgia Hydrogen Energy Braintrust, an organization that works with Georgia businesses, public and private partners, energy companies, universities, transportation agencies and others to elevate the state's leadership position in hydrogen energy.

Yamaha recently introduced the hydrogen-powered golf car as well as a hydrogen-powered outboard as means to explore hydrogen as a possible method of achieving carbon neutrality within its product lines. Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit and other industry partners continue to promote the advancement and availability of multiple sustainable marine fuels, which significantly reduce CO2 emissions while maintaining boat range and performance. The demonstration highlights drop-in fuels that can remain compatible with all existing recreational boats, requiring no changes to the boat fuel system or engine.

During the 2024 Discover Boating® Miami International Boat Show, Yamaha unveiled the world's first hydrogen-powered outboard for recreational boats along with a prototype fuel system integrated into a vessel that the company plans to further refine for testing later this year. Yamaha joined forces with Roush to develop the fuel system to power the new outboard and collaborated with long-time boat builder partner Regulator Marine to build a boat suitable for testing the prototype outboard. Together, the companies plan to begin testing the protype for viability on the water in the summer of 2024.

By working with Roush on the fuel system engineering, Yamaha gains the benefit of more than two decades of hydrogen systems integration and research. Regulator Marine built a hull based on the 26XO and modified it to accommodate the hydrogen tanks necessary to power the new outboard. The effort allows engineers to begin the process of determining marine standards for the use of hydrogen in vessels.

A recent, first-of-its-kind study commissioned by the International Council of Marine industry Associations (ICOMIA) entitled The Pathways to Decarbonisation for the Recreational Marine Industry, validates Yamaha's approach to carbon neutrality, revealing a multi-plan approach is the best way to continue the decarbonization of recreational boating. Through the study, leading global engineering consulting firm, Ricardo plc, investigated propulsion technologies across nine common recreational watercraft to compare the impact of lifetime global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, financial costs, usability, performance, range and infrastructure implications.

Due to the unique water environment of boats, the study found there is no "one-size-fits-all" solution, and instead recommends a portfolio of technologies to continue the reduction of carbon emissions within the recreational boating industry including a combination of electric, hybrid, sustainable marine fuel and internal combustion applications.

Recreational boats, which depend on clean water and preserved environments, account for less than 0.1 percent of (GHG) emissions, specifically 0.7 percent of transportation carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the United States and 0.4 percent of transportation CO2 emissions in Europe. Due to concentrated efforts within the marine industry, in the last two decades, the U.S. recreational marine industry alone has decreased marine engine emissions by more than 90 percent and increased fuel efficiency by more than 40 percent. Yamaha remains at the forefront of these efforts. Beyond this progress, the global recreational marine industry remains committed to leading conservation efforts that protect the natural marine environment and identifying ways to expand its collective efforts. To learn more, visit PropellingOurFuture.com.

This is sponsored content provided by Yamaha, Executive Level Sponsor of the 2024 American Boating Congress.

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