BETA
This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here

More From Forbes

Edit Story

Japan's Big Carmakers Gang Up In Support Of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles, At Least Officially

This article is more than 6 years old.

Japanese automakers and their government are gung-ho about turning Japan into a hydrogen nation. Powered by funds supplied by the Development Bank of Japan, all three major Japanese automakers, Toyota, Nissan and Honda, have banded together with major Japanese gas and energy suppliers to build a network of hydrogen fueling stations big enough to support their government’s ambitious 2020 target of 40,000 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles on Japan’s roads.

This according to an embargoed and passworded joint press release Friday, a day after the Nikkei had a more in-depth story. The Nikkei talked about raising the number of hydrogen filling stations in Japan from 90 currently to 300 in the next 10 years. The joint press release is a bit more cautious, referring only to the Japanese government’s roadmap, “which targets a total of 160 operational hydrogen stations by fiscal 2020.” According to the Nikkei, but not the press release, the Japanese government now “targets 900 hydrogen fueling stations and 800,000 fuel cell cars in the country by 2030.” Feel free to pick a suitable number.

Among electric vehicle supporters, battery vs. fuel cell has turned into a holy war, fought with religious fervor. Proponents of battery electric vehicles (BEV) espouse the fact that electric plugs are everywhere. Fans of hydrogen praise the speed of refueling, and the much longer range of their cars. The trouble with hydrogen is the dearth of filling stations, something the consortium wants to address – at least in Japan.

If a country in Europe would start such an initiative, customers would worry about their next trip across the border, and the project would be stillborn. As an island nation, Japan stands much better chances of going it alone. There is a lot to do in that regard. Battery electric vehicles are well ahead in Japan, with more than 100,000 battery electric vehicles, and a similar number of plug-in hybrids on Japan’s roads. They are supported by more than 7,100 fast chargers.

These numbers were boosted by a similar initiative started three years ago by Toyota, Nissan, Honda, and Mitsubishi. They created a joint Nippon Charge Service LLC, also with funds provided by government money through Japan’s Development Bank.

In Japan, ambitious hydrogen plans are hobbled by another problem: Not enough cars. Toyota makes the hydrogen-powered Mirai, and Honda produces the Clarity Fuel Cell, both in rather homeopathic numbers. Toyota also makes hydrogen-powered buses. Nissan has no fuel cell vehicle. The maker of the battery-electric Leaf is firmly in the BEV camp. Does Nissan’s support for the big hydrogen push mean a change of heart and powertrains? It doesn’t look like it. A knowledgeable source inside of Nissan diplomatically said his company would be behind “hydrogen fuel cells with a fervor similar to what's shown by Toyota in support of batteries.”

Hai, wakatta.

Follow me on TwitterCheck out my website