MOL and e5 Lab Launch Study on Hydrogen Hybrid Pure Car Carrier – MOU Aims at Development of Zero-emission Vessels

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President & CEO: Junichiro Ikeda) and e5 Lab. Inc. (e5 Lab; President: Tomoaki Ichida; Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo), which are working to develop and promote electrically powered zero emission vessels, have concluded a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) to conduct a joint study of a hybrid pure car carrier equipped with a hydrogen fuel cell system and large-capacity batteries (hydrogen hybrid PCC).

MOL has worked to realize zero emissions of vessels while in ports since it announced its future vision for the next-generation series “ISHIN-I” car carrier in 2009. In 2012, it launched the world’s first hybrid car carrier, the Emerald Ace, which is equipped with the world’s largest-scale solar power generation system and batteries. The hydrogen hybrid PCC concept marks a further step ahead from these past projects, and the company is pursuing the possibility of introducing more extensive and more advanced technologies with the goal of zero emissions.

Both companies will first conduct technological and business feasibility studies of the hydrogen hybrid PCC, and when they gain positive results, they will move on to the next phase of joint development for a practical of hydrogen hybrid PCC based on the results.

MOL and e5 Lab continually engage in measures to reduce merchant vessels’ environmental impact by taking full advantage of both companies’ wide-ranging technological knowledge to ensure the sustainable growth of the shipping industry.