Honda and GM begin mass production of next-generation fuel cell systems, 1/3 of production cost

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

ホンダとGM 次世代燃料電池システム量産開始 生産コスト3分の1

2024年1月26日 1時03分

自動車メーカーのホンダとアメリカのGM＝ゼネラル・モーターズは、ことし日本とアメリカで発売する予定の燃料電池車に搭載する次世代の燃料電池システムの量産を始めたと発表しました。

生産コストを従来の3分の1におさえているのが特徴で、ほかの企業にも販売していく方針です。

ホンダとGMは25日、アメリカ中西部ミシガン州デトロイト近郊にある合弁会社の工場で次世代の燃料電池システムの量産を始めたと発表しました。

新たな燃料電池システムは、材料の見直しなどで生産コストを従来の3分の1まで大幅に削減したほか耐久性も2倍に高め、マイナス30度という寒さが厳しい地域でも稼働できるのが特徴だということです。

ホンダは脱炭素に向けてEV＝電気自動車とともに水素事業に力を入れています。

ホンダはこのシステムを搭載したSUV＝多目的スポーツ車タイプの燃料電池車を、ことし日本とアメリカで発売する予定です。

また、このシステムを車だけでなく電源装置としてほかの企業にも販売していく方針です。

ホンダとGMの合弁会社の鈴木哲男副社長は「この燃料電池が信頼性があるものだということを理解してもらい、販売を拡大していきたい。需要が増えれば価格も安くなるので多くの燃料電池を早く世の中に普及させたい」と話していました。

Translation

Automobile manufacturer Honda together with American GM = General Motors announced that they had begun mass production of a next-generation fuel cell system that would be installed in fuel cell vehicles scheduled to be released in Japan and the United States this year.

It was characterized by reducing production costs to one-third of conventional costs, and the company planned to sell it to other companies as well.

Honda and GM announced on the 25th that they had begun mass production of a next-generation fuel cell system at their joint venture plant near Detroit of  Michigan in the Midwest of the US.

The new fuel cell system was characterized by significantly reducing production costs to one-third of conventional costs through changes in materials and other factors, as well as doubling its durability and allowing it to operate in regions as cold as -30 degrees Celsius.

Towards decarbonization Honda was putting efforts on hydrogen business as well as EV (electric vehicle).

Honda planned to release an SUV (multipurpose sports vehicle) type fuel cell vehicle equipped using this system in Japan and the United States this year.

Also, they planned to sell this system not only to cars but also to other companies as power supplies.

Tetsuo Suzuki (鈴木哲男), vice president of the joint venture between Honda and GM, said, ``We want people to understand that this fuel cell is reliable, and we want to expand sales. As demand increases, prices will also decrease, so we want to popularize fuel cells to the world as soon as possible."

              So, Honda and GM will begin mass production of a next-generation fuel cell system vehicles. The new fuel cell will be characterized by reducing production costs to one-third of conventional costs. Also, the system can operate in regions as cold as -30 degrees Celsius. I am interested in knowing how the new fuel cell operates and what will be its impact on the sales of traditional EV.