Based on our shared belief in the unique potential of fuel cell
electric vehicles to meet the future needs of our customers and society,
Honda and GM have initiated a long-term technology partnership with a
specific purpose: co-development of a next generation fuel cell system
and hydrogen storage technologies targeting the 2020 time frame.
Let's be clear: both Honda and GM will continue to develop our own
unique products for our customers. But we are joining efforts to
leverage our technological expertise with the goal of accelerating the
development of highly advanced fuel cell technology in order to
introduce even more affordable fuel cell electric vehicles.
Honda has a long history of environmental leadership that has played a
key role in helping the auto industry reduce pollution, fuel
consumption and CO2 emissions. This includes the area of fuel cell
technology. Ten years ago, the Honda FCX became America's first fuel
cell electric vehicle available to individual customers. The stylish
Honda FCX Clarity fuel cell electric sedan debuted in 2008 and was named
World Green Car in 2009.
Despite this history of fuel cell technology leadership, Honda has
never shied away from collaborating with another company when it has the
potential to create new value for our customers and strengthen the
Honda brand. In fact, more than ten years ago, Honda and GM had a
successful partnership in an exchange of technologies and components.
Since that time, we have maintained a strong relationship that served as
the foundation for this new joint project.
Today, GM has vast experience with fuel cell propulsion systems and a
deep understanding of fundamental technology, including class-leading
knowledge of chemical reaction and advanced materials. At Honda, we're
confident in our expertise in the structural design and advanced
production process technologies of the fuel cell.
GM and Honda have more patents in the area of fuel cell technology
than any other automakers. And we have found much of our combined
expertise to be complementary. GM and Honda will openly share this
intellectual property with one another, which we believe can achieve the
world's strongest partnership in the area of fuel cell technology.
In fact, we are developing a successor to FCX Clarity that we plan to
launch in 2015, with the concept model debuting later this year. And
there is the possibility that some technology from GM may be applied to
this new fuel cell model.
Fuel cell electric vehicles have the unique potential to meet the
future transportation needs of our customers and society. But to realize
the widespread use of future fuel cell vehicles is a big challenge that
requires a significant advance in cost reduction and in the refueling
infrastructure that will support them. In each area, we believe that two
companies can do more together than the simple sum of our individual
efforts.
The Honda Environmental Vision expresses our passionate desire to
"Realize the freedom and joy of mobility and a sustainable society where
people can enjoy life." We believe this new strategic partnership
between Honda and GM, two long-term leaders in fuel cell technology, has
the great potential to help us do just that.
Courtesy of Honda News and Views
