Honda and general Motors have announced fresh details concerning a joint venture to develop a new ‘advanced’ hydrogen fuel cell system, destined for use in future models from both brands. The companies have revealed mass production of the new fuel cell ought to begin “around 2020”.
The operation will go under the name of fuel Cell System manufacturing LLC, and will be located within the site of general Motors’ existing battery pack manufacturing plant in Brownstown, Michigan, responsible for developing the batteries for automobiles like the Chevrolet Volt.
Advertisement – short article continues below
• Hydrogen cars: new government funding for fuel cell vehicles
The joint venture will practically double the plant’s number of employees, creating around 100 new jobs while representing a total investment of $85 million between the two companies.
GM and Honda joined forces over hydrogen in 2013 in a bid to keep development costs down by sharing proficiency and hydrogen fuel-cell intellectual property. Toshiaki Mikoshiba, Honda’s North American CEO said: “Over the past three years, engineers from Honda and GM have been working as one team with each company offering know-how from its distinct proficiency to create a compact and inexpensive next gen fuel system.
• Moments of clarity: Honda’s greatest tech innovations
“This foundation of exceptional teamwork will now take us to the stage of joint mass production of a fuel cell system that will help each company create new value for our customers in fuel cell cars of the future.”
The next generation fuel cell system promised by the two firms is developed to be less expensive and simpler to manufacture. The fuel cell uses far fewer precious metals resulting in a lower cost system smaller and lighter than fuel cells before it.
Last October, car express reported that Honda and GM would develop a hydrogen fuel cell stack and tank, but not a complete automobile together. Honda also revealed that the two companies have been talking about possible technologies beyond the new fuel cell.
Would you purchase a hydrogen fuel cell car? let us know below…