Skip to main content

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

  • Italy’s resurgence
    June 22, 2020
    Despite the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy – one of the world’s hardest hit nations –the Genoa Bridge replacement continues, with more deck sections in position
  • Leica believes that digitisation is the key to improving efficiency and lowering costs
    April 20, 2016
    The digitisation of the construction process will give greater transparency on costs at the site and ultimately lead to improved productivity and efficiency in the industry, said Johan Arnberg, president of Leica Geosystems Machine Control Division, speaking at a Leica roundtable on digitisation of the construction industry held at bauma. The data gathered by the new generation of digitised construction machines and tools will enable contractors and owners for the first time to put key performance indicator
  • Raxtar’s novel energy saving hoist system
    January 6, 2017
    Hoist specialist Raxtar is now offering an energy saving system for customers. Pascal Matheeuwsen of the Dutch company said, “We have a nice new green solution. It’s an option we can supply with our hoist.” The hoist operates conventionally when raising its load, however when the platform descends its switches over to generator mode. Matheeuwsen said, “We achieve around 47% power savings compared with a conventional hoist.”
  • Raxtar’s novel energy saving hoist system
    April 24, 2015
    Hoist specialist Raxtar is now offering an energy saving system for customers. Pascal Matheeuwsen of the Dutch company said, “We have a nice new green solution. It’s an option we can supply with our hoist.” The hoist operates conventionally when raising its load, however when the platform descends its switches over to generator mode. Matheeuwsen said, “We achieve around 47% power savings compared with a conventional hoist.”