In the same week that  that Toyota  announced a firm stop to diesel passenger cars sales in Europe as of next year,  11 companies launched  the Japan H2 Mobility on March 5, 2018, LLC (JHyM), aimed at the full-fledged development of hydrogen stations for fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) in Japan. These companies are Toyota Motor Corporation, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd., JXTG Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation, Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., IwataniCorporation, Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd., Toho Gas Co., Ltd., Air Liquide Japan Ltd., Toyota Tsusho Corporation, and Development Bank of Japan Inc.

The JHyM main focus is the deployment of hydrogen stations throughout Japan as outlined by the guidance of the Japanese Central Government’s Ministerial Council on Renewable Energy, Hydrogen and Related Issues (see Basic Hydrogen Strategy, published on December 26, 2017).  The 10 year initiaitve will engage infrastructure developers, automakers, and investors in strategic deployment of hydrogen stations in Japan It intends to start building 80 stations nationwide by fiscal year 2021 in line with the Japanese Central Government’s Strategic Road Map for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells (revised March 22, 2016) This roadmap released by the Council for a strategy for hydrogen and fuel cells targets the completion of about 160 hydrogen stations serving around 40,000 FCV by fiscal year 2020.

Phote: courtesy Toyota Japan