GM and Honda to produce a hydrogen fuel cell

Honda Motor Co Ltd has announced it will jointly produce pollution-free hydrogen fuel-cell power systems with General Motors Co from around 2020. At a press conference in Detroit, GM executive Mark Reuss said the fuel cells could be used in autonomous vehicles as well by ride-sharing companies such as Lyft. Honda said fuel cell vehicle development is a vital component to its goal of new-energy cars making up two-thirds of its line-up by 2030, which is currently at 5 per cent, according to Reuters. Both companies have produced hydrogen fuel-cell cars in the past. Honda first launched the Clarity in Japan last autumn at a cost of $95,820. The car has a fuel economy rating of 3.4 litres per 100km. Just 118 have been produced so far, with the hydrogen cell currently manufactured in Japan. Production will eventually shift to the US. Last October, GM unveiled the Chevrolet Colorado ZH2, a pickup truck test vehicle designed for the US military. Honda and GM have been working together after announcing a collaboration agreement in July 2013, when the car manufacturers integrated their development teams and shared hydrogen fuel cell intellectual property. "Over the past three years, engineers from Honda and GM have been working as one team with each company providing know-how from its unique expertise," said Toshiaki Mikoshiba, chief operating officer of the North American region for Honda, in a statement. The venture will be overseen by a board of directors that includes three executives from each company and a rotating chairperson and president. Fuel Cell System Manufacturing will operate within GM's existing battery pack manufacturing facility in Brownstown, Michigan. Both companies are making equal investments of $116 million in the project.