<aside> 💡 i Labo Inc. (headquartered in Tokyo) was founded in 2019 as a pioneering company dedicated to replacing fossil-fuel engines with hydrogen combustion engines through its core H2ICE conversion technology. Its main business appears to focus on converting existing engines of heavy-duty industrial equipment—such as trucks, construction machinery, generators, and marine vessels—into hydrogen-powered systems. A key foundation of this capability lies in the involvement of experts with nearly half a century of research, development, and demonstration in hydrogen engine technologies. This long-standing technical expertise, combined with an internationally experienced management and engineering team, seems to provide both credibility and foresight, while also strengthening the company’s prospects for global expansion and international collaboration.
In addition to engine conversion, i Labo also offers comprehensive services, including carbon audits to evaluate lifecycle CO₂ emissions, prototyping tailored hydrogen conversion systems, talent development, and component supply. These activities suggest that the company aims not only to provide technology but also to deliver practical, on-site solutions that support customers in a holistic manner.
Against the backdrop of heavy commercial vehicles emitting more CO₂ than passenger cars, and in sectors where EVs and FCVs face adoption barriers, hydrogen engine conversion could open a viable new market with strong potential for real-world impact. Recently, the company raised approximately 800 million yen to advance mass-production technologies and construct a new research center, while initiating collaborations with partners such as TPR, Uegumi, Miyoshi Express, and Idemitsu. These developments point toward steady progress in both technological innovation and social implementation.
Taken together, i Labo appears poised to deliver practical and economically viable decarbonization solutions, with its hydrogen engine technology offering the potential for significant societal impact. The company seems well worth watching as its technology and markets continue to develop. （AS）
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