Eneos, Suzuki, Subaru, Daihatsu, Toyota, and Toyota Tsusho have established the Research Association of Biomass Innovation for Next Generation Automobile Fuels to study ways to optimize the process of producing fuel.
This new research association will aim to promote technological research on the use of biomass, as well as the efficient production of bioethanol fuel for automobiles through the optimized circulation of hydrogen, oxygen, and CO2 during production to achieve carbon neutrality.
Specifically, the study will look at efficient ethanol production systems, with the aim of improving production technology for second-generation bioethanol fuel that does not compete with food.
As part of this, the research association will design, install and operate production facilities, identify issues with production, research solutions and study ways to improve the efficiency of production systems.
The association will also research by-product oxygen, CO2 capture and utilization. This includes looking at how to use the high concentration of oxygen generated as a by-product during hydrogen production as well as the CO2 generated during bioethanol fuel production.
Research on the efficient operation of the overall system, including fuel utilization, will also take place, with the research association investigating the issues involved with using bioethanol fuel obtained through the research program in automobiles and other vehicles and exploring solutions. It will also study model formulas that can make predictions of raw material cultivation production volumes and fuel production volumes.
Finally, the research association will focus on efficient raw material crop cultivation methods, developing a system that proposes optimal cultivation methods for maximizing yield and optimizing crop components to secure raw materials for bioethanol fuels.
This research will aim to improve the accuracy of crop yield predictions through soil composition surveys and other methods.