Honda to start out producing new hydrogen gas cell system co-developed with GM

TOKYO, Feb 2 (Reuters) – Japan’s Honda Motor Co (7267.T) stated it is going to begin producing a brand new hydrogen gas cell system collectively developed with Common Motors Co (GM.N) this 12 months and step by step step up gross sales this decade, in a bid to develop its hydrogen enterprise.

Honda will goal annual gross sales of round 2,000 items of the brand new system in the course of this decade, the corporate stated on Thursday, aiming to spice up that to 60,000 items per 12 months in 2030.

The Japanese carmaker is in search of to develop using its new system not just for its personal gas cell electrical automobiles (FCEVs), but additionally industrial automobiles resembling heavy vans, as stationary energy stations and in building equipment.

Honda will begin manufacturing of the hydrogen gas cell system via its three way partnership with GM this 12 months, Honda senior managing govt director Shinji Aoyama informed reporters throughout an organization occasion in Tokyo.

With the “next-generation” system, the corporate goals to greater than double sturdiness in contrast with its older gas cell system and to deliver prices down by two-thirds.

“Whereas industrial automobiles are in use everywhere in the world, they’re going to doubtless see electrification simply as with passenger automobiles,” stated Tetsuya Hasebe, common supervisor of Honda’s hydrogen enterprise growth division.

That might doubtless result in a divergence in vans utilizing batteries and people working on gas cells, he added.

Reporting by Daniel Leussink; Enhancing by Chang-Ran Kim and Jamie Freed

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