Suzuki and UK-based Intelligent Energy have formed a joint venture to manufacture fuel cell systems for the Japanese company’s next generation of fuel cell vehicles.
The partners will build a GBP100m (US$158m) plant in Japan to make the UK company’s systems.
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Intelligent Energy began as a government-funded research programme at Loughborough University in 1988. It has offices in London and California.
The 50-50 joint venture with Suzuki will be called SMILE FC System Corporation and it will develop and manufacture air-cooled fuel cell systems for a number of industries. The joint venture also includes a non-exclusive licence agreement that gives Suzuki access to Intelligent Energy’s fuel cell technology.
Suzuki’s executive vice president Osamu Honda will head SMILE FC System with headquarters in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka and operations based initially in Yokohama.
“Suzuki has been developing fuel cell vehicles with Intelligent Energy since 2006, and this successful relationship has led to the formation of SMILE FC System,” Honda said. “I believe that we can accelerate the commercialisation of fuel cell vehicles through this joint venture.”
Henri Winand, chief executive of Intelligent Energy, said the JV “will accelerate the number of our systems for mass manufacturing and it allows Suzuki to avoid the higher costs of in-house development.”
