Saiteng University Japan’s first self-driving bus using next-generation fuel “Renewable Diesel” at the “Furusato Fukaya/Shibusawa Manabu” forum

[Saiteng University] Japan’s first self-driving bus using
next-generation fuel “renewable diesel” at the “Furusato
Fukaya/Shibusawa Manabu” forum ​
Saiteng University Press release: November 12, 2024 Japan’s first self-driving bus using next-generation fuel “Renewable Diesel” at the “Furusato Fukaya/Shibusawa Manabu” forum
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Pictured from left: Saitama Gas President Karahashi, Saitama Institute of Technology President Uchiyama, Fukaya City Mayor Kojima, INPEX JAPAN President Miyanaga, Fukaya Kanko Bus President Takada Fukaya City, Saitama Prefecture (Mayor: Susumu Kojima, hereinafter Fukaya City), Saitama Institute of Technology (President: Shunichi Uchiyama, Headquarters: Fukaya City, Saitama Prefecture), INPEX Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President and Representative Director: Takayuki Ueda) INPEX Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of “INPEX”) JAPAN (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President: Hiromi Sugiyama, Masaru Miyanaga, hereinafter referred to as “INPEX JAPAN”) participated in the “Furusato Fukaya Manabu Shibusawa” forum held in Fukaya City today. A special course of approximately 1.7 km using public roads around the Fukaya Civic Cultural Center, transporting children and students from Fukaya City, Renewable Diesel*1 We would like to inform you that we have collaborated to hold a trial ride of an autonomous bus that uses Diesel (hereinafter referred to as RD) as fuel. This is the first attempt in Japan to run a self-driving bus using RD. *1 The RD used this time was developed by Itochu Corporation (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President and COO: Keita Ishii), which has a collaborative structure with the INPEX Group, and was developed by the Neste OYJ Group (Headquarters), the world’s largest renewable fuel manufacturer. ：Finland, CEO: Heikki Malinen) and Itochu Enex Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director, President and CEO: Tomofumi Yoshida) from INPEX It was supplied to Japan. This initiative is based on the Comprehensive Collaboration Agreement on Regional Revitalization*2 concluded on April 16, 2024 by Saitama Institute of Technology, which supports the efforts of the “Fukaya Shibusawa Studies” forum, Fukaya City, Saitama Gas, and INPEX. This was achieved through collaboration. *2 Regarding the conclusion of a comprehensive partnership agreement for regional revitalization with Fukaya City and Saitama Gas Co., Ltd.:
https://www.inpex.co.jp/news/2024/20240416.html The RD used in this trial is diesel fuel derived from renewable resources. It is manufactured from waste cooking oil and animal oil, which have no food competition, and can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 90% compared to petroleum-derived light oil based on a life cycle assessment. RD is mainly used in transportation trucks and buses, and as a drop-in fuel, it can be started using existing vehicles and refueling facilities as is, and has already been widely distributed mainly in Europe and America. As a next-generation renewable fuel that can minimize the introduction costs associated with decarbonization measures and greatly contribute to reducing GHG emissions, it is expected that its use will further expand in various fields in the future. As part of Fukaya City’s “hometown education,” which fosters people’s hometowns, understanding their hometowns, and fostering a spirit and attitude of pride, Fukaya City is fostering the spirit of “establishment and loyalty” of the local great Eiichi Shibusawa, and is promoting the development of local communities. In order to develop children who will become leaders, we are promoting the “Furusato Fukaya/Shibusawa Studies” program. The “Furusato Fukaya/Shibusawa Studies” forum shares current efforts at each school through presentations and exhibitions by children who have learned the spirit of Eiichi Okinawa, and promotes “Furusato Fukaya/Shibusawa Studies”. This is aimed at further enrichment. Saitama Institute of Technology supports the “Furusato Fukaya/Shibusawa Studies” forum and the comprehensive partnership agreement between Fukaya City, Saitama Gas, and INPEX, and will operate self-driving buses using the supplied RD. We hope that this trial will help the children who will be responsible for the future of Fukaya City learn about carbon neutrality and autonomous driving technology, which are difficult to directly interact with, through hands-on experience rather than just on paper. Additionally, this self-driving bus operation was made possible with the cooperation of Fukaya Kanko Bus Co., Ltd. The self-driving bus is a demonstration vehicle for self-driving, based on the Hino Rainbow, which is retrofitted with self-driving functions developed by Saitama Institute of Technology. The vehicle was selected for the Saitama Prefecture Advanced Industry Creation Project’s Smart Mobility Demonstration Subsidy for two consecutive years, and in FY2021 it was selected for the Saitama Prefecture Digital Technology Utilization Product Development Subsidy, and the vehicle is equipped as a joystick vehicle*3. has been customized so that it can be controlled by autonomous driving AI developed based on Autoware*4. AI enhances obstacle recognition (identification and classification), and uses deep learning to recognize the surrounding environment and detect obstacles from image information from multiple lidar and cameras. *3 “Joystick car” is a vehicle for people with disabilities sold by Mikuni Life & Auto Co., Ltd. *4 “Autoware” is a trademark of The Autoware Foundation. In the “Long-term Strategy and Medium-term Management Plan INPEX Vision@2022” announced in February 2022, the INPEX Group has formulated the company’s long-term strategy for 2030 and 2050, taking into account changes in the business environment. We have formulated a medium-term management plan for the three years from 2020 to 2024, indicating specific initiatives and goals for the time being. By collaborating with city gas utilities, which are wholesale suppliers of natural gas, we not only continue to provide a stable supply of natural gas, but also provide solutions for decarbonization of local governments, thereby addressing local community issues. We will continue to promote initiatives that contribute to the solution. The four parties will continue to work together to further promote regional revitalization through projects aimed at regional
revitalization in Fukaya City and aim for sustainable city
development.