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GM and Honda have commenced the production of hydrogen fuel cell systems at their joint venture production facility, Fuel Cell System Manufacturing LLC (FCSM).
This partnership marks the first large-scale manufacturing endeavour dedicated to fuel cells.
Established in Michigan in January 2017, the 70,000-square-foot facility has generated 80 jobs through a joint investment of $85 million (€99m/ £72.3m). These world-class hydrogen power solutions, produced at FCSM since January, will be utilized by both companies across various product applications and business ventures.
FCSM President Suheb Haq emphasized the commitment to producing high-quality, durable, and affordable hydrogen fuel cell systems for a wide range of applications and customers. Vice President Tetsuo Suzuki highlighted the integration of Honda and GM's strengths in creating a capable production system ready to meet the demands of future fuel cell technology applications.
Honda and GM engineers commenced collaboration in 2013 to co-develop the next-generation fuel cell system. By leveraging economies of scale and advancing cell design, the companies have successfully reduced development and manufacturing costs, making the new fuel cell systems two-thirds less expensive to produce than their 2019 counterparts.
Significant efforts have been made at FCSM to ensure high-quality manufacturing while improving productivity, including automating membrane-electrode-assembly production and fuel cell stack assembly.
The Fuel Cell System is integral to Honda's ambitious “Triple Action to Zero” approach toward achieving zero environmental impact by 2050. Honda aims to expand the application of the new fuel cell system beyond FCEVs to stimulate demand for hydrogen and facilitate carbon neutrality through its use.
Honda Motor Europe debuted a prototype of the next-generation hydrogen fuel cell system at European Hydrogen Week in Brussels in November 2023, generating significant interest from various industries across the region.
Honda aims to stimulate demand for hydrogen by expanding its application to various products and businesses, focusing on four application areas, including FCEVs, commercial vehicles, stationary power stations, and construction machinery.
Ingo Nyhues, Deputy General Manager of Europe Business Planning & Development at Honda Motor Europe, emphasised the potential of fuel cell systems in driving industries toward a zero environmental impact future.
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