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Japanese firms work toward viable fuel cell cars

TOKYO - Mitsubishi Motors Corp, Suzuki Motor Corp and Hino Motors Ltd plan to take part in demonstration tests of fuel-cell vehicles being conducted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

Mitsubishi and Suzuki will participate using vehicles they developed in-house, while Hino will use its fuel-cell vehicle developed with Toyota Motor Corp, to collect data concerning safety and environmental impact. This brings the total number of auto makers participating in the project to eight.

Mitsubishi plans to develop by this autumn a fuel-cell version of its new Grandis minivan, which hit the market last month. It will obtain basic technology from German top shareholder DaimlerChrysler AG and incorporate fuel cells made by Canada's Ballard Power Systems Inc.

Suzuki is expected to get technological assistance from US firm General Motors Corp. It is undecided when the company's fuel-cell vehicle will be developed or what model it will be based on. Hino has already developed with Toyota a large fuel-cell-powered bus.

Toyota, Honda Motor Co, Nissan Motor Co, GM and DaimlerChrysler are already taking part in METI's fuel-cell effort.

(Asia Pulse/Nikkei)

Jun 13, 2003

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