GM, Honda to Collaborate on Fuel Cell Technologies
NEW YORK -- General Motors Co. and Honda Motor Co. Ltd. have formed a long-term, definitive master agreement to co-develop next-generation fuel cell system and hydrogen storage technologies, with a goal of having them by 2020. The collaboration expects to succeed by sharing expertise, economies of scale and common sourcing strategies.
GM and Honda say they’ll work together with stakeholders to further advance refueling infrastructure, a factor critical for the long-term viability and consumer acceptance of vehicles powered by fuel cells.
According to the Clean Energy Patent Growth Index, GM and Honda rank first and second respectively, in total fuel cell patents filed between 2002 and 2012, with more than 1,200 between them. "This collaboration builds upon Honda and GM's strengths as leaders in hydrogen fuel cell technology," said Dan Akerson, GM chairman and CEO, in a prepared statement. "We are convinced this is the best way to develop this important technology, which has the potential to help reduce the dependence on petroleum and establish sustainable mobility."
"Among all zero carbon dioxide emission technologies, fuel cell electric vehicles have a definitive advantage with range and refueling time that is as good as conventional gasoline cars. Honda and GM are eager to accelerate the market penetration of this ultimate clean mobility technology, and I am excited to form this collaboration to fuse our leading fuel-cell technologies and create an advanced system that will be both more capable and more affordable," added Takanobu Ito, president and CEO of Honda, in his prepared statement.
GM's Project Driveway program, launched in 2007, has accumulated nearly three million miles of real-world driving in a fleet of 119 hydrogen-powered vehicles, more than any other automaker. Honda began leasing of the Honda FCX in 2002 and has deployed 85 units in the United States and Japan, including its successor, the FCX Clarity, named the World Green Car in 2009. Honda has delivered these vehicles to customers in the United States and collected valuable data concerning real-world use of fuel cell electric vehicles.
Honda plans to launch the successor of FCX Clarity in Japan and the United States in 2015, and then in Europe. GM will announce its fuel cell production plans at a later date.
Fuel cell vehicles can operate on renewable hydrogen made from sources such as wind and biomass. The only emission from fuel-cell vehicles is water vapor. Additionally, fuel cell vehicles can have up a driving range of upto 400 miles, can be refueled in as little as three minutes, and the propulsion technology can be used on small, medium, and large vehicles, officials said.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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