World's First Regular Highway Shuttle Service Using Fuel Cell Buses Starts

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) started operation of its Hydrogen Highway Project on December 16, 2010, as part of the Hydrogen Energy Social Infrastructure Development Demonstration Project to create a hydrogen energy-based society for the future. The project is the first of its kind worldwide and involves construction and operation of hydrogen filling stations in Suginami Ward (Tokyo), Haneda, and Narita as hydrogen supply bases, as well as a highway shuttle service using fuel cell buses and vehicles.

Airport Transport Service Co., which provides airport shuttle services, started on the same day a regular transfer service using fuel cell buses between the west exit of Shinjuku Station and Haneda Airport and between Tokyo City Air Terminal and Haneda Airport, making one round trip per day for each route. The company also started a fuel cell hired car service in January 2011.

In addition to the Hydrogen Highway Project, the Hydrogen Energy Social Infrastructure Development Demonstration Project also includes a Hydrogen Town Project, in which general households will be set up to demonstrate the use of hydrogen supplied through pipelines. Through both projects, the Ministry is setting out to demonstrate on a community level safe and simple hydrogen production, transportation, storage, and utilization.

Hydrogen Filling Station for Fuel-Cell Vehicles Opens in Fukuoka (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/029658.html
Hydrogen Highway Project in Progress in Fukuoka (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/029186.html

Posted: 2011/05/06 06:00:15 AM