13 Firms To Study Hydrogen Supply Routes For Fuel Cell Cars

TOKYO (Nikkei)--Nippon Oil Corp. (5001), Tokyo Gas Co. (9531) and 11 other companies said on Tuesday that they will conduct joint research with an aim to commercialize technologies for supplying hydrogen to fuel cell vehicles by fiscal 2015.

Other participants include Idemitsu Kosan Co. (5019), Showa Shell Sekiyu KK (5002), Osaka Gas Co. (9532) and Toho Gas Co. (9533). Automakers are said to be considering joining the group.

The research alliance will conduct field trials by setting up dozens of hydrogen stations across Japan. By using the oil companies' hydrogen production facilities and the pipelines of the gas companies, the group will research ways to transport the fuel to filling stations in a stable manner at low cost.

Some of the stations are to be built in urban areas and on highways, such as at existing gasoline-pumping depots. The group hopes to eventually lower supply costs to levels comparable to gasoline.

Fuel cell vehicles run on electricity generated through a reaction between hydrogen fuel and oxygen in the air. Although it is considered a promising Earth-friendly automotive technology because vehicles do not emit any carbon dioxide while running, the high cost of building an infrastructure for supplying hydrogen fuel have hampered widespread use.

(The Nikkei Aug. 5 morning edition)