Fuel Cell Works Supplemental News Page

**Japan's 2010 Fuel Cell Vehicle Target Hard to Achieve: Expert**
Publication date: 19-June-04 Source: Asia Intelligence Wire
Kenichiro Ota, who heads a Japanese group for promoting the use of hydrogen as a new, clean energy source, indicated Friday that Japan's target of introducing 50,000 fuel cell vehicles by 2010 looks very difficult to achieve at present. Ota, chairman of the Hydrogen Energy System Society of Japan and professor at Yokohama National University, expressed the view in an interview with Jiji Press. The government expects that the number of FCVs in Japan will rise to five million in 2020 after clearing the 50,000 milestone in 2010. FCVs run on electricity produced through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, and produce only water as a by-product. Referring to the upcoming 15th World Hydrogen Energy Conference to be held in Yokohama, southwest of Tokyo, on June 27-July 2, Ota said that the main purpose of the conference is to let the world see Japan's technologies and acknowledge them. As a main event during the six-day period of the conference, dubbed WHEC15, government officials of Japan, the United States and Europe will discuss the countries' hydrogen energy policies. Representatives from such companies as Japan's Toyota Motor Corp. <7203> and General Motors Corp. of the United States are also slated to hold debates on the development of FCVs. ~

Kenichiro Ota, who heads a Japanese group for promoting the use of hydrogen as a new, clean energy source, indicated Friday that Japan's target of introducing 50,000 fuel cell vehicles by 2010 looks very difficult to achieve at present.

Ota, chairman of the Hydrogen Energy System Society of Japan and professor at Yokohama National University, expressed the view in an interview with Jiji Press.

The government expects that the number of FCVs in Japan will rise to five million in 2020 after clearing the 50,000 milestone in 2010.

FCVs run on electricity produced through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, and produce only water as a by-product.

Referring to the upcoming 15th World Hydrogen Energy Conference to be held in Yokohama, southwest of Tokyo, on June 27-July 2, Ota said that the main purpose of the conference is to let the world see Japan's technologies and acknowledge them.

As a main event during the six-day period of the conference, dubbed WHEC15, government officials of Japan, the United States and Europe will discuss the countries' hydrogen energy policies.

Representatives from such companies as Japan's Toyota Motor Corp. <7203> and General Motors Corp. of the United States are also slated to hold debates on the development of FCVs.