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Mitsui Invests USD25 million in FirstElement Fuel, Inc.: Expands Collaboration with Hydrogen Station Operator in California

By June 17, 2020 2   min read  (357 words)

June 17, 2020 |

Mitsui and FirstElement Fuel Collaboration

Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (“Mitsui”, Head Office: Tokyo, President and CEO: Tatsuo Yasunaga) has invested a total of USD25 million in FirstElement Fuel, Inc. (“FEF”, Head office: California, U.S.A.), the biggest developer and operator of hydrogen stations in California.

First Element Fuel Station 2FEF is a start-up established in 2013. Mitsui first began to collaborate with FEF last year and has taken its support for the business a step further through this direct investment. The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (“JBIC”, Governor: Tadashi Maeda) has also invested a total of USD23 million in FEF.

With around 8,300 light-duty fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) on its roads as of April 2020, California is the world’s biggest FCEV market. FEF operates 20 hydrogen stations, which is one-half of the total number in California. It aims to expand its network of stations in step with the spread of FCEVs. With this latest investment, which follows a previous investment in March 2019, Mitsui, as a lead investor, will collaborate with FEF on multiple initiatives to reduce the costs associated with FCEVs, as well as leveraging FEF’s functions and knowhow accumulated in the automobile market to expand into new business areas and regions.

Another promising business model is the development of hydrogen infrastructure and hydrogen supply services for the commercial vehicle (buses and trucks) sector, for which growth is expected, because of the long driving ranges and other advantages shown by FCEVs. Mitsui is also working on other possibilities for the future, including expansion into new application of fuel cell, such as the maritime, locomotive, and mining sectors, and into other regions in addition to the US. Positioning this initiative as a first commitment with FEF in developing a renewable hydrogen value chain in the US, Mitsui will expand its hydrogen-related activities in the country.

The creation of an eco-friendly society was identified as one element of Mitsui’s Materiality. Our commitment to initiatives that will help to tackle climate change is also reflected in the positioning of energy solutions as a strategic focus in the Medium-term Management Plan 2023, which we announced in May 2020.

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