SMILE FC System Corporation, a joint venture between Intelligent Energy and Suzuki Motor Corporation has successfully established a ready-to-scale production plant for its fuel cell systems in Yokohama, Japan.
The production line marks the successful transfer of proven semi-automated production technology, developed and utilized by Intelligent Energy. This represents the next stage in high volume production of fuel cell systems with associated reduction of manufacturing and assembly costs as well as improved cycle times and enhanced product quality.
The manufacturing centre will be scaled up to supply fuel cell stacks for integration with Suzuki vehicles. The joint venture has access to Intelligent Energy’s fuel cell technology under a non-exclusive license, thereby accelerating the commercialization of Suzuki’s fuel cell vehicles.
Headquartered at Suzuki HQ in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka, SMILE FC was created in February 2012 to develop and manufacture air-cooled fuel cell systems for a range of industry sectors including automotive. The joint venture provides Suzuki with access to Intelligent Energy’s Air Cooled Fuel Cell technology, through partnering and licensing. This will drive benefits such as early volume production, economies of scale and avoiding the higher costs associated with in-house development.
