In efforts to realize carbon neutrality, Mazda Motor Corporation aims to popularize the use of next-generation biodiesel fuels and will participate in the Super Taikyu Race in Okayama to be held at the Okayama International Circuit on Saturday, Nov. 13 and Sunday Nov. 14, where Mazda will enter a racecar with a conventional diesel engine (Skyactiv-D 1.5) that runs on 100% bio-based fuel made from used cooking oil and microalgae fats. From next year, Mazda will step up its efforts and participate in all rounds of the endurance race throughout the season.Under its corporate vision, Mazda aims to be a brand that continues to share a special bond with customers by providing cars that enrich their lives with the sheer pleasure of driving while at the same time continuing to pursue the challenge to attain carbon neutrality in 2050.
Mazda is a member of the Hiroshima “Your Green Fuel” Project, a demonstration project in Hiroshima for popularizing and spreading the use of next-generation biofuels jointly run by the Hiroshima Council for Automotive Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration (Hirojiren)1 as an activity of the Energy Expert Subcommittee and Euglena Co., Ltd.2 (Euglena: headquartered in Minato-ward, Tokyo, President: Mitsuru Izumo). The project aims to establish a model for revitalizing regional areas by retaining the entire value chain of carbon neutral fuels from the manufacture and supply of raw materials through to fuel use within the Hiroshima area. In August 2020, the project confirmed that the performance of this biodiesel fuel was on a par with petroleum-based diesel fuel, and Mazda commenced using it in company cars with diesel engines.
To achieve carbon neutrality, Mazda believes it is important to offer customers a variety of options. With this in mind, Mazda intends to expand its powertrain lineup by investing not only in conventional hybrids, diesel engine models, and EV models but also plug-in hybrid models while promoting initiatives in renewable fuels such as next-generation biodiesel fuels. Next-generation biodiesel fuels, which are made from sustainable raw materials such as microalgae fats and used cooking oil, do not compete with the human food supply, which has been an issue with existing biodiesel fuels, and because these fuels can also be used as alternatives to diesel fuel in existing vehicles and equipment without any modification, no additional fuel supply infrastructure is required. Therefore, biodiesel fuels can be expected to play a prominent role as an excellent liquid fuel source in promoting carbon neutrality.
And now, the Skyactiv-D 1.5 engine, installed in the Mazda vehicle that will compete in the Super Taikyu Race this time, will be capable of demonstrating peak performance even running on next-generation biodiesel fuel without any engine modifications. In a demonstration test of a next-generation biodiesel fuel derived entirely from biomaterials, the racecar “Mazda Spirit Racing Bio concept Demio” will participate in the ST-Q class running on a biofuel called “Susteo” supplied by Euglena and with the cooperation of the NOPRO3 racing team. The plan is to receive fuels from Euglena for the next season as well. The Super Taikyu Races have been held since 1991 as endurance races for mass-produced cars, and the ST-Q class is a class open to cars developed by manufacturers and approved by the Super Taikyu Organizing Committee. In addition to Mazda, Toyota Motor Corporation is also participating with a hydrogen-powered car.
