How does Yamaha assess electrification at sea?
Yamaha has recently acquired Torqeedo, sending a clear signal to the market that electrification will be a strategic focus area going forward.
What does electrification at sea look like from the perspective of the world's largest outboard motor manufacturer? We met Yamaha's sales manager for the boat segment in the Scandinavian market, Iver Strand, at this year's Boot Düsseldorf.
I am surprised that there has not been a single environmental requirement for the boating industry since the ban on new two-stroke engines in 2007.
Iver Strand, Yamaha
Torqeedo is one of the largest manufacturers of electric boat engines. The acquisition is strategic for Yamaha.
- It takes time to develop this kind of technology, and from idea to finished product on the market we often talk about a period of four to eight years. We will invest heavily in electrification, among other things, in the future, and it was a real step for us to buy one of the companies that have been pioneers in this area," says Strand.
In Yamaha's global strategy, electrification is one of four key priorities for the company, along with digitalization, automation and sharing.
Yamaha is working in parallel on the development of several technologies, such as hybrid solutions and hydrogen, but also cleaner combustion engines.
At this year's Miami International Boat Show, Yamaha will present for the first time a concept model of a hydrogen-powered outboard engine.
Summarized
- Yamaha has acquired one of the leading manufacturers of electric boat engines, Torqeedo, as a strategic move to strengthen its commitment to electrification.
- As the world's largest outboard engine manufacturer, Yamaha is working on several technologies, including hybrid solutions, hydrogen and cleaner combustion engines, and has recently unveiled a prototype of a hydrogen-powered outboard engine.
- Yamaha's sales manager for the boat segment, Iver Strand, sees regulations and incentives as key drivers for the transition to zero-emission technologies and emphasizes the need for clear and predictable requirements to accelerate the transition to greener technologies.
- Yamaha is ready to invest in emission-free technology as soon as it is profitable.
Few environmental requirements for the boating industry
As in other industries, regulations, frameworks and requirements are important drivers of innovation. Strand is surprised that there have been no new environmental requirements for the boating industry since the ban on new two-stroke engines in 2007. This is remarkable given what has happened in other industries in recent years, not least the stringent climate and environmental requirements in the car industry.
When asked how he assesses the pace of the transition to zero-emission technology in the industry, he refers to the fact that giants like Mercury and Yamaha have launched their first all-electric models on the market. Suzuki recently announced that it will launch its first all-electric engine in 2024, and that it will roll out five models by 2030.
- But the market share of electric powertrains is currently vanishingly small. And the vast majority of boat engines sold today are based on technology that is more than 120 years old. This is largely due to the fact that we do not have clear emission requirements and environmental targets, like the car industry. We have no problem with requirements for our industry, as long as they are predictable and clear," he says.
It's a big machine that needs to be transformed as new technologies take over the market in earnest. In the European part of Yamaha alone, there are around 15,000 mechanics who need to be brought up to the right union level to deal with electrification.
The main driver of transition
During the Soundless Festival in Arendal in June 2023, Strand stated that the future of boating is largely guaranteed to be electric, and that it is only a question of how long it will take to happen.
- "The future is electric, but we have to go through some steps first. In Norway, we have a fleet of almost a million boats, so a full conversion will obviously take a long time," he says.
Yamaha is ready to press the button when it is profitable to invest heavily in emission-free technology.
Iver Strand, Yamaha
Iver Strand points to regulations, emission requirements and certain incentives as the key drivers for a change in the industry.
- "Politically, the most important thing is that we have a requirement to relate to, but that there are also incentives for consumers that cover the additional cost of buying emission-free technology until there is volume on the market and it goes by itself," he says.
Stand believes that the authorities must set clear environmental requirements, without saying that it must be electric, or must be biofuel, and then Yamaha and the other manufacturers develop the technology accordingly.
The industry is thus calling for much clearer emission requirements in order to chart the course of its long-term strategies. Only when this is in place will the green shift take off in the boating industry.
Perhaps it is time to put this much more clearly on the political agenda. Yamaha is ready to push the button when it is profitable to invest heavily in zero-emission technology. The acquisition of Torqeedo shows that they mean business.
