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Yanmar To Build Plant for Marine Hydrogen Engines
Akihiro Komuro Yanmar Power Solutions is advancing the development of engines that are compatible with next-generation fuels. In anticipation of future increased production volumes of marine and land-based engines, the company has acquired a site in Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture.
The new plant will be used to conduct test runs of marine hydrogen engines and to reorganize and strengthen production capabilities, including those of existing plants. The new plant is scheduled to begin operations about March 2029.
In the marine industry, there are ongoing efforts to develop and commercialize decarbonization technologies with the aim of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Leveraging its expertise in engine development and production, Yanmar Power Solutions plans to develop powertrains compatible with next-generation fuels, including hydrogen, methanol and ammonia, and establish production systems to support them.
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Power Shortages Boost Reliance on Generators
Akihiro Komuro Amid rising demand during the dry season and the risk of power plant outages, concerns are mounting in the Philippines over tight electricity supplies. The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has noted that prices on the Wholesale Electricity Supply Market (WESM) could increase by approximately 4 pesos per kWh.
This increase is due to a combination of factors, including high temperatures, the shutdown of some power plants, and rising fuel costs.
These conditions are also causing instability in the power supply at the regional level. For instance, Boracay’s supply capacity has not kept pace with the surge in electricity demand fueled by the tourism recovery, prompting the use of generators in some areas. Although transmission operators aim to avoid power outages through future infrastructure improvements, reliance on backup power sources continues to some extent.
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Zhangxue Demonstrates Strength of “Made in China”
Jack Hao China’s Zhangxue Motorcycles team emerged as a dark horse in the 2026 FIM Super-bike World Championship (WSBK) Portuguese Round last month with its independently developed 820RR-RS race machine clinching back-to-back victories in both World SSP class races, dominating the field by 3.685 seconds.
This triumph marked the first-ever championship title for a Chinese motorcycle brand in this premier competition and also shattered the 29-year monopoly held by European, American, and Japanese manufacturers since the class’s inception in 1997.
Observers noted that this outcome demonstrates the rapid growth and technological breakthroughs of China’s motorcycle industry.
Some industry insiders believe that this breakthrough shattered the long-standing monopoly of European, American, and Japanese brands in this competition, and also signals that China’s motorcycle industry now can compete head-to-head with the world’s premier brands.
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PowerTALK™, April 2026
In the April 2026 issue of PowerTALK News you can read articles about reports from CONEXPO 2026, Alternative Power News, and DataPoint, plus reports on Iran and Tariffs, BYD Developments, and more.
ALTERNATIVE POWER REPORT
- A “Failed Experiment”? Biofuels Under Spotlight
- US Battery Recycler Lands $1.1B Metals Refining Deal
- When Fossil Fuel Supplies Falter, Interest In Renewables Increases
- Oil Crisis Makes Drivers Reconsider Electric
DATAPOINT: 2026 Aerator Production
GLOBAL REPORT: 2026 Global MHCV Production Gains Seen
EUROPE REPORT:- Volvo Moves into Big Electric Equipment
- KTM Completes Strategic Realignment and Leap into Premium EVs
SOUTH AMERICA/BRAZIL REPORT:
- Import Tax Decision on Buses Is Reversed
- Indian Preet Enters Brazil With Tractor Manufacturing Plant
- Selic Interest Rate Cut Has Limited Impact in Auto Market
- VWCO Tests B100 Soybean Biodiesel in Engines
- GAC Plans Vehicle Production in Brazil
JAPAN REPORT: Yanmar To Build Plant for Marine Hydrogen EnginesSOUTH KOREA REPORT: HD Construction Sets Electric Safety Training SystemPHILIPINES REPORT:…
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Ashok Leyland Takes Major Step Toward EV Leadership
Aditya Kondejkar Ashok Leyland’s move to develop and assemble its own battery packs marks one of its most strategically significant announcements in recent years. As India transitions toward a cleaner, multi-fuel commercial mobility ecosystem, this decision places the company at the center of the country’s electric commercial vehicle (ECV) transformation. The implications extend across technology, cost structure, competitive positioning, and long-term industry dominance.
At the core, battery packs account for 35–45% of an electric vehicle’s total cost, making them the single most influential factor in pricing and margins. By internalizing battery pack development, Ashok Leyland is aiming to break its dependence on third-party suppliers, reduce bill-of-materials cost, and secure tighter control over the EV value chain. This is crucial as global cell prices fluctuate and supply chains remain vulnerable to geopolitical shifts. In-house pack assembly gives the company cost stability, greater design flexibility, and freedom to optimize packs specifically for Indian duty cycles—ranging from stop-and-go urban e-buses to long-haul e-LCVs and future heavy-duty platforms.
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Alternative Power Report, March 2026
In the March 2026 issue of the Alternative Power Report produced by Power Systems Research and authored by Guy Youngs, you'll find articles on plug-in hybrid research, long-run tests of PV-powered refrigerated trailers, comparison tests of EV batteries, cutbacks in Bosch China operations, and the changing cost differential between Chinese and EU batteries. Read these articles and more in the March Alternative Power Report today. PS…
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