Japan Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Demonstration Project (JHFC) working toward the commercialization of fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), the most promising among next-generation vehicles, launched an extensive demonstration study in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture on March 12, 2003. The project also established a hydrogen-refueling facility known as a hydrogen station.

The project plans to establish hydrogen stations, as the world's first approach, using different types of fuels and different methods, including liquid hydrogen and reformed desulfurized gasoline, at five locations in Tokyo and Yokohama. FCVs of the participating auto manufacturers, both Japanese and foreign-affiliated, will be tested on public roads to identify technical issues toward the practical use of FCVs by collecting and analyzing data on running performance, safety, environmental characteristics and durability under actual operating conditions.

The auto manufacturers participating in the study are Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. from Japan, and General Motors Corp. and DaimlerChrysler Corp. from overseas. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has set a target of having 50,000 FCVs in use in Japan by 2010 and five million by 2020.

http://www.jhfc.jp/

Posted: 2003/05/02 09:29:06 AM
Japanese version

TAG Energy , Government , Local government , Manufacturing industry , Technology , Transportation