GM/Suzuki First In Japan Approved To Use Advanced Hydrogen Storage System
700 Bar System Increases Range Of Two Company's Fuel Cell Vehicles
TOKYO - General Motors today became the first automaker in Japan to receive approval for a compressed hydrogen storage system that allows its fuel cell vehicles to travel farther on a tank of hydrogen.
GM's Alliance Partner, Suzuki, will use the state-of-the-art 700 bar (10,000 psi) system in its next-generation fuel cell vehicle, which will be unveiled later this year. GM is currently using the advanced hydrogen storage system in several of its fuel cell vehicles operating on public roads in North America and Europe.
The 700 bar system can increase the range of fuel cell vehicles by up to 50 percent over a comparably sized 350 bar (5,000 psi) system, currently used by the rest of the industry. To date, GM is the only automaker operating vehicles with the 700 bar system.
"Hydrogen storage is one of the keys to making fuel cell technology commercially viable," said Larry Burns, GM vice president, research and development, and planning. "We're making progress and we're confident we'll achieve the ranges that customers will demand. We're also excited to be partnering with Suzuki in putting this technology into smaller fuel cell vehicles."
The 700 bar system was developed in collaboration with GM's strategic fuel cell partner, Quantum Fuel Systems Technology Worldwide, Inc (NASDAQ: QTWW), based in Irvine, Calif. Quantum's Japanese partner, Sumitomo Corporation, played a key role in securing Japanese Government certification.
"Suzuki, collaborating with GM, has been developing fuel cell vehicles since 2001, and also is participating independently in the Japan Hydrogen Fuel Cell (JHFC) Demonstration Project," said Osamu Suzuki, Chairman and CEO, Suzuki Motor Corporation. "Suzuki is convinced that today's approval greatly contributes to the development of fuel cell vehicles in the future."
GM is working hard with governments around the world to help establish a global set of standards around fuel cell technology.
"The Japanese government is very active in promoting fuel cell technology," said Burns. "It's important to have the latest storage technologies available for testing and discussion. It's gratifying that the Japanese government has chosen GM's technology as the first 700 bar compressed hydrogen storage system for certification. We thank them and look forward to continued collaboration."
GM also is using liquid hydrogen storage in several of its worldwide fleet of fuel cell vehicles, including the HydroGen3 vehicle currently operating in Tokyo and Yokohama as part of GM's membership in the Japan Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Demonstration Project. In Japan, the HydroGen3 is the first - and only - liquid hydrogen fuel cell vehicle certified for public roads.