Japanese Gov’t to check practicality of fuel cells
TOKYO —
The government will conduct demonstration tests in fiscal 2009 to assess the usefulness of fuel cells using airport limousine buses and power generation systems that use the advanced technology, which is regarded as effective in the battle against global climate change, the industry ministry said Friday.
On routes connecting central Tokyo with Haneda and Narita airports, two buses will begin operating powered by fuel cells, which generate electricity by mixing hydrogen with oxygen and emit only water. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will also conduct an experiment for home-use power generation in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, supplying some 20 homes with hydrogen necessary for the cells through pipelines. The ministry will entrust these demonstrations to a private-sector research entity in Tokyo joined by companies such as oil wholesalers and gas suppliers.
