Toyota, Nissan, Honda will work to improve FCV infrastructure

Toyota Motor Corporation, Nissan Motor Co and Honda Motor Co plan to collaborate to help accelerate the development of hydrogen station infrastructure for fuel cell vehicles (FCVs). Specific measures that will be taken will be decided by the three manufacturers at a later date.

For hydrogen-fueled FCVs to gain popularity, it is not only important that attractive products be launched, but hydrogen station infrastructure must also be developed. At present, infrastructure companies are working towards building such an infrastructure but they face difficulties in installing and operating stations since FCVs are not common on the road.

Following the formulation of its Strategic Road Map for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in June 2014, the Japanese government has highlighted the importance of developing a hydrogen station infrastructure as quickly as possible in order to popularise FCVs. Consequently, the government is not only supporting the installation of hydrogen stations by means of subsidies, but has also resolved to introduce a range of additional policies aimed at promoting activities that generate new demand for FCVs, including partially subsidising the cost of operating hydrogen stations.

The three carmakers hope to both, popularise FCVs and ensure that it will be easy to refuel them. Consequently, they have recognised the need for automobile manufacturers to promote the development of hydrogen station infrastructure alongside government and infrastructure companies, with the aim of working towards achieving the targets of the abovementioned road map, the source of government's subsidy support. The three automobile manufacturers say they will give careful consideration to concrete initiatives, such as underwriting a portion of the expenses involved in the operation of hydrogen stations.