JV to develop and manufacture fuel cell systems in Japan

Intelligent Energy, a specialist in clean power systems, and the Suzuki Motor Corporation have announced the creation of a joint venture company called Smile FC System Corporation, to develop and manufacture air-cooled fuel cell systems for a range of industry sectors.
March 16, 2012 Read time: 2 mins

4011 Intelligent Energy, a specialist in clean power systems, and the Suzuki Motor Corporation have announced the creation of a joint venture company called Smile FC System Corporation, to develop and manufacture air-cooled fuel cell systems for a range of industry sectors. The joint venture also includes a non-exclusive license agreement that gives Suzuki access to Intelligent Energy’s fuel cell technology for its next generation of environmentally friendly fuel cell vehicles.

Under the terms of the contract, both companies will take a 50 per cent stake in the joint venture. Smile FC System Corporation will be led by Osamu Honda, executive VP and representative director for Suzuki Motor Corporation, who will become president of the JV which will be headquartered in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka, with operations initially based in Yokohama, Japan.

According to Intelligent Energy’s Phil Caldwell, newly appointed to the board of Smile FC System, “This joint venture is the latest exciting development in the successful relationship between Intelligent Energy and Suzuki, which has previously resulted in the Crosscage motorcycle and the Suzuki Burgman fuel cell scooter. It is a big step towards the mass production of automotive fuel cell systems.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Vehicle manufacturers working on fuel cell project
    May 22, 2013
    A number of leading automakers are working on a joint project to develop sophisticated fuel cell vehicles in the US. Hyundai, Mercedes, Nissan and Toyota are collaborating on the project, which includes developing new fuel cell storage systems. However the scope of the project extends beyond developing the propulsion technology and will also cover refuelling stations.
    Read More
  • EU biofuels strategy ‘criticised’
    July 3, 2012
    A NEW report revealed by the European Commission says that increasing the share of fuel used in transport beyond 5.6% could cause more harm than benefit to the environment. At the end of 2008 the EU agreed to set a target of 10% of transport fuel coming from renewable sources such as biofuels as well as hydrogen and ‘green’ electricity by 2020. The agreement also included a requirement that all new energy sources be sustainable, setting sustainability criteria for biofuels, and is this last point that is p
    Read More
  • Strong performance for upcoming bauma China event
    December 14, 2012
    The organisers of bauma China have every right to feel pleased with their work - Mike Woof reports As the bauma China 2012 exhibition closed its doors, the organisers were likely congratulating themselves over a highly successful event. Anyone walking the aisles at this exhibition cannot fail to have noticed the huge numbers of visitors, with early figures saying that 180,000 people visited the show. This was a notable 16% increase over the 155,615 visiting this exhibition in 2010. Despite the slowdown in t
    Read More
  • Out with Russian bureaucracy, in with foreign road investment
    September 27, 2013
    Transport journalist Eugene Gerden reports on why foreign companies are likely to become keener to invest in Russia’s huge array of major road construction projects The Russian government led by president Vladimir Putin is stepping-up its efforts to get greater foreign company investment in Russian road building by creating favourable trading conditions, including the elimination of bureaucratic and administrative barriers.
    Read More

Highlighted Content