Mazda invests in biofuels research while prepping for EV launch next year

MANILA: Fancy fueling your vehicle with algae? As far-fetched as it sounds, it may not be too far off in the future as Mazda has taken part in a joint research among the industry, the academe, and the government to adopt biofuels from microalgae growth.

Mazda’s “Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030” aims to reduce CO₂ emissions to 50% of 2010 levels by 2030 and 90% by 2050.

The Japanese automaker contends that 95% of vehicles in the future will still use an internal combustion engine with some form of electrification, which is why they believe that liquid fuel will still be in high demand until at least 2040.

Algae biofuel only releases CO₂ when burnt, which is then removed from the atmosphere via photosynthesis, makes it an excellent source of carbon-neutral fuel for vehicles that use an internal combustion engine.

As clean as it is for auto fuel, microalgae is also very sustainable. It can be farmed on land unsuitable for agriculture, can be grown with minimal impact on freshwater resources, can be produced using saline and wastewater, have a high flash point, and are biodegradable and relatively harmless to the environment if spilled.

Mazda’s role is to provide technical support to the research into genome editing by Hiroshima University and plant physiology by the Tokyo Institute of Technology.

Currently, Mazda has emissions reduction systems already installed in several models. These include, the i-STOP, Cylinder Deactivation, and an M Hybrid 24V mild-hybrid system.

Next year, Mazda is set to debut its all-electric MX-30 First Edition featuring an AC synchronous electric motor that’s powered by a 35.5kWh lithium-ion battery and can be rapid charged up to 50kW.

Also read: Mazda introduces cylinder deactivation and more in 2020 CX-5