Toyota, Nissan and Honda are teaming up to nearly double the amount of hydrogen stations in Japan, to help accelerate take-up of the next-generation fuel technology.
Top Japanese carmakers formed a joint venture on Monday with major gas and energy companies, including French industrial gases company Air Liquide, to build 80 new hydrogen stations in the next four years, to add to the 101 stations currently in Japan.
The newly formed Japan H2 Mobility, LLC (hereinafter JHyM) will foster the deployment of hydrogen stations throughout Japan under the guidance of the Japanese Central Government’s Ministerial Council on Renewable Energy, Hydrogen and Related Issues (“Basic Hydrogen Strategy” published on December 26, 2017).
In alignment with Central Government policies, the 11 founding companies joined forces to create the world’s first framework in which not only infrastructure developers and automakers but also investors are involved in collaboration, based on the common belief in the effectiveness of hydrogen and fuel-cell vehicles for mobility and continued sustainable societal development.
To tackle the key issues raised during the beginning stage of fuel-cell vehicles promotion, JHyM will ensure that infrastructure developers, automakers, and investors each do their part to support the successful strategic deployment of hydrogen stations in Japan, promoting effective operation, and facilitating a positive cycle of improved convenience for fuel-cell vehicles users. The ultimate goal of JHyM is to smoothly increase the number of fuel-cell vehicles on the road in Japan, and thus to sustainability build the hydrogen station business.
JHyM aims to complete its mission within 10 years. It intends to start building 80 stations nationwide by fiscal year 2021 in line with the Japanese Central Government’s “Strategic Road Map for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells” (revised March 22, 2016), and to further extend the network afterward. This roadmap released by the Council for a Strategy for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells targets the completion of about 160 hydrogen stations serving around 40,000 FCV by fiscal year 2020.
