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Toyota and GM Reported to End Joint Fuel-Cell Vehicle Research
22 February 2006
The Asahi Shimbun reports that Toyota Motor and General Motors plan to end their joint research on fuel-cell vehicle development at the end of March because of a lack of progress.
The two companies are expected to agree to extend their alliance on advanced technologies in other areas such as safety and information until March 2008, according to the report, which suggests that the agreement will emerge in early march at the earliest.
The two automakers agreed in 1999 to cooperate on fuel-cell research, in part to take the lead in fuel-cell vehicle technology and exchange information on technical requirements and build-up of infrastructure. Toyota officials said that close ties between the two companies will remain unchanged because they will continue to exchange information on the remaining issues such as safety and intelligent transportation systems.
The officials also said the two companies will expand environment-related research if they find suitable areas, according to the paper.
Toyota and GM apparently concluded that it is not necessary to include fuel-cell vehicle development in the extended accord also because commercial production of fuel-cell vehicles is not expected for about 10 more years.
February 22, 2006 in Fuel Cells, Hydrogen, Research | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)
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Comments
Actions speak louder than words.
Posted by: Bruk B | Feb 23, 2006 6:17:27 AM
Fuel cell vehicles have been 10 years away for the last 40 years.
Posted by: tom deplume | Feb 23, 2006 10:02:51 AM
"Fuel cell vehicles have been 10 years away for the last 40 years."
And they will be for the next 40.
Posted by: Robert Schwartz | Feb 23, 2006 11:27:41 AM
If the point of the "Freedon Car initiative" was to waste time and drain resources from more immediate and practical technologies, it has succeded beyond its crafters wildest dreams.
Posted by: Ian Bruce | Feb 24, 2006 11:09:52 AM
Contrast what is said above to this little PR line: "GM wants to develop a commercially viable fuel cell vehicle by 2010." - http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0501/27/E01-71817.htm
No wonder GM's market share is in freefall...
Posted by: An Engineer | Feb 24, 2006 3:04:06 PM
