Intelligent Energy and Suzuki Motor complete ready-to-scale fuel cell production line in Japan
20 February 2013
SMILE FC System Corporation, a joint venture between Intelligent Energy and Suzuki Motor Corporation, has established a ready-to-scale production plant for its fuel cell systems in Yokohama, Japan.
The production line marks the successful transfer of proven semi-automated production technology, developed and utilized by Intelligent Energy. This represents the next stage in high volume production of fuel cell systems with associated reduction of manufacturing and assembly costs as well as improved cycle times and enhanced product quality.
The manufacturing center will be scaled up to supply fuel cell stacks for integration with Suzuki vehicles. The joint venture has access to Intelligent Energy’s fuel cell technology under a non-exclusive licence.
Headquartered at Suzuki HQ in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka, SMILE FC was created in February 2012 to develop and manufacture air-cooled fuel cell systems for a range of industry sectors including automotive. The joint venture provides Suzuki with access to Intelligent Energy’s Air Cooled Fuel Cell technology, through partnering and licensing.
This seems to be a win-win-win approach for future affordable, higher efficiency, higher quality FCs.
They could eventually build larger FCs for locomotives, ships, heavy trucks and long range inter-city buses and e-power generation stations?
Posted by: HarveyD | 20 February 2013 at 09:04 AM
Sounds great, but in typical 30 year fuel cell history, no unit price.
Posted by: kelly | 20 February 2013 at 10:57 AM
Artemis and other hydraulic hybrid technologies can reduce fuel consumption to half without expensive batteries, motors, electronic drives and far more expensive fuel cells. It may be that the Artemis technology is being demonstrated by PSA Peugeot Citroën and Bosch. ..HG..
Posted by: Henry Gibson | 20 February 2013 at 10:32 PM
Hydraulic hybrids seems to work well on race cars due to the many short decelerations and accelerations. It would also be very beneficial on garbage trucks, city buses, city cabs. elevators, cranes etc.
With only a few seconds of energy stored, it would be a lot less useful/efficient on longer trips specially at a steady high speed on highways.
Posted by: HarveyD | 21 February 2013 at 04:55 PM