Mazda Motor Corporation aims to popularize the use of next-generation biodiesel fuels and participated in the Super Taikyu Race in Okayama held at the Okayama International Circuit on November 13-14, where Mazda entered a race car 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.

Mazda plans to expand powertrain lineup

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.

Hiroshima “Your Green Fuel” Project

Mazda is a member of the Hiroshima “Your Green Fuel” Project, a demonstration project in Hiroshima, Japan, for popularizing and spreading the use of next-generation biofuels jointly run by the Hiroshima Council for Automotive Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration (Hirojiren), as an activity of the Energy Expert Subcommittee and Euglena Co., Ltd. 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 at par with petroleum-based diesel fuel, and Mazda commenced using it in company cars with diesel engines.