Yamaha Motor Corporation U.S.A. 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. The effort is part of Yamaha’s strategy to achieve carbon neutrality: deploying multiple technology solutions. The outboard was unveiled at the Miami Boat Show held Feb. 14-18, 2024.

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 prototype for viability on the water in the summer of 2024, according to an article published in Boating Industry.

“Yamaha is exploring all possibilities to achieve carbon neutrality, and we’ve made commitments for our operations to be carbon neutral by 2035 and our products to become carbon neutral by 2050. That goal within the marine market can only be reached through an approach that leverages multiple solutions. We believe hydrogen is a viable method of achieving these goals,” said Ben Speciale, President, Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit, as quoted in the article. “Yamaha wants to be a leader in this space, and we encourage others in the marine industry to become involved as we look for ways to build infrastructure and new policy around innovations.”

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. Together, Yamaha, Regulator and Roush displayed the boat hull, fuel system and outboard to demonstrate how hydrogen could work as a possible fuel source in a marine environment. Also, the effort allows engineers to begin the process of determining marine standards for the use of hydrogen in vessels.

Yamaha announced the hydrogen outboard project last December. Further demonstrating the company’s commitment to a multi-technology approach to carbon neutrality, Yamaha recently announced plans to acquire all shares of electric outboard company Torqeedo. In addition, Yamaha continues to promote the use of sustainable fuels within internal combustion outboard engines as another alternative.