Toyota, Nissan, Honda back hydrogen stations for fuel cells
In this Jan. 30, 2010 file photo, a man looks at Honda Motor Co.'s Civic hybrid cars in front of the Japanese automaker's headquarters in Tokyo. Slow sales and falling gasoline prices have prompted Honda to stop selling gas-electric hybrid and natural gas-powered versions of its Civic compact car, the automaker said Monday, June 15,
TOKYO >> Toyota, Nissan and Honda are working together to get more fuel cell vehicles on roads in what they call Japan’s big push toward "a hydrogen society."
Fuel cell vehicles emit no pollution. They run on the power created when hydrogen stored as fuel combines with oxygen in the air to make water.
Hydrogen fueling stations are needed to make the technology a viable option.
The automakers pledged up to 11 million yen ($90,000) per hydrogen station per year, to build and maintain them. Officials appeared together in a news conference in Tokyo Wednesday.
The stations already get government subsidies.
Japan is trying to get ahead of the rest of the world in a push for a hydrogen society, which requires energy companies, automakers and the government to work together.
