HORIBA Group has recently opened the HORIBA Institute for Mobility and Connectivity² (HIMaC²) research facility at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). Accordingly, the new institute is part of the Advanced Power and Energy Program (APEP) at UCI. Particularly, it will focus on the future of zero-emission vehicles, connected and autonomous vehicle technology and the integration of the energy and transportation sectors to improve both the environment and people’s lives.

The grand opening featured a reception for the 145 attendees, facility tours, as well as keynote speeches made by HORIBA and UCI executives.

Contributes to Future Sustainability

“I’m very pleased to announce that this innovative and world-leading research institute has been completed under a longstanding cooperative relationship between UCI and HORIBA. I’m also honored that HORIBA’s analysis and measurement expertise will contribute to groundbreaking research results from this HIMaC²,” said Atsushi Horiba, Chairman & Group CEO, HORIBA, Ltd.

In addition, Atsushi Horiba said HIMaC² will contribute to realizing the new energy society. Furthermore, it will become an outstanding research institute to make future society much more sustainable. As interest in electrification and hydrogen increases, the world is anxiously waiting for HIMaC²‘s outcomes.

In 2018, HORIBA pledged a US$9 million donation to establish and support the HIMaC². The institute, which is in a state-of-the-art facility within UCI’s Engineering Gateway building, bridges the partnership between the industry and academia. Moreover, the goal is to bring forth new technology and solutions to solve our society’s toughest and most demanding energy challenges.

Promotes Further Partnership

“HIMaC² represents a collection of state-of-the-art research laboratories for conducting crucially important and highly innovative research in the future of transportation, energy,” said Pramod Khargonekar, UCI Vice Chancellor for Research.

Since its inauguration on July 6, 2021, the HIMaC² has been hard at work, actively addressing the challenges of sustainable energy through numerous projects and research initiatives. Particularly, the progress made at the institute has drawn significant attention and praise from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The organization has awarded a US$6 million grant to establish a Public Road Network Platform for future connected and autonomous vehicle technologies.Furthermore, current active projects in the facility include research in partnership with the California Air Resources Board focusing on regulatory initiatives to enable market readiness for zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. Meanwhile, several other future projects are under discussion which will continue to build the growing reputation of HIMaC² as it makes positive contributions to the mobility and energy field.