Quantum wins contract for Asian fuel cell bus program

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2004
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 73 KB
• Volume: 2004
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1464-2859
• DOI: 10.1016/s1464-2859(04)00124-5

✦ Synopsis

Global cooperation for FCV standards

The Japanese government is planning to establish separate accords with the US and European Union nations that will lead to the development of global standards on fuel cells, and in particular for fuel cell-powered vehicles. There are currently no international standards on aspects such as hydrogen purity and pressure, storage tanks and fueling nozzles, and this is regarded as an obstacle to widespread acceptance of fuel cell technology.

The need for common US/Japanese standards was discussed during the recent visit of US energy secretary Spencer Abraham to Tokyo, which led to the signing of a joint declaration by Abraham and Goji Sakamoto, Japan's vice minister of economy, trade and industry to pursue collaborative, pre-competitive R&D in fuel cells and hydrogen technologies [FCB, February]. The accord will be formalized as early as this spring, according to Japanese government sources. Under the agreement, Japan and the US will work together to establish standards for fuel cells and develop fuel cell technologies.

Japan is also likely to sign a similar accord with the EU this spring. The development of common standards is an integral part of the accord signed by the US government and the EU in June 2003 [FCB, July 2003].

Major Japanese, US and European automakers are also expected to join the drive, in a move that will give fresh impetus to the development of commercially viable fuel cell cars.