Japan plans ‘Silicon Valley of fuel cells’

A prefectural government in Japan is seeking to become the special fuel-cell district of the country.

Yamanashi prefecture, within the main island of Japan, wants to become the ‘Silicon Valley of fuel-cell technology’ as it seeks to ease restrictions on the use of hydrogen fuel for vehicles as part of the central government’s special economic zones scheme to be launched next year.

The prefecture intends to work with Yamanashi University and specialist firms to promote the use of fuel cell vehicles within the area according to Japanese news website, Yomiuri.co.jp.

According to the plan, the prefecture would allow fuel-cell vehicles to be charged on public highways and expressway services, which is currently banned under the High Pressure Gas Safety Law and the Road Traffic Law. It would install further hydrogen filling stations and conduct long-distance tests of fuel-cell vehicles on highways.

The prefecture also wants to utilise central government subsidies to fund companies involved in fuel-cell development projects.

Yamanashi University opened a fuel-cell research centre in 2009, which the prefectural government provided government employees to assist in research projects. Fuel cell vehicles have been widely mooted as the ultimate green vehicles, but the expense of establishing refuelling infrastructure and the cost of ongoing vehicle development has so far largely kept them off the roads.

Source: TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk