General Motors and Honda announced in New York today (2 July) a “long-term, definitive master agreement to co-develop next-generation fuel cell system and hydrogen storage technologies, aiming for the 2020 time frame”.
The collaboration expects to succeed by sharing expertise, economies of scale and common sourcing strategies, the automakers said in a statement.
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“GM and Honda plan to work together with stakeholders to further advance refueling infrastructure, which is critical for the long-term viability and consumer acceptance of fuel cell vehicles.”
Honda has plenty of form with fuel cells already. In 2012, it was one of several automaker co-signers of a memorandum of understanding covering the introduction of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure for 2014-2017 in the Nordic Countries.
Having introduced the FCX Clarity fuel cell car in 2008, Honda, also in 2012, said it would launch a new fuel cell electric model – “which will showcase the significant technological advancements and cost reductions since the launch of the FCX Clarity” – in Japan, the US and Europe starting in 2015.
In 2011, Honda’s UK unit opened a hydrogen fuelling station at its main campus in Swindon; this followed a similar Shell-operated facility opened by Honda’s US unit in conjunction with Toyota adjacent to the automakers’ campuses in Torrance, south of Los Angeles.
GM and Honda claim to be “acknowledged leaders in fuel cell technology”. 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. “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.”
Takanobu Ito, president and CEO of Honda Motor, said: “Among all zero CO2 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.”
GM’s Project Driveway program, launched in 2007, has accumulated nearly 3m 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 US and Japan, including its successor, the FCX Clarity, which was named the 2009 World Green Car. Honda has delivered these vehicles to customers in the US and collected “valuable” data concerning real-world use of fuel cell electric vehicles.
As already announced, 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 later.
