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FuelCellStocks.Com Fuel Cells News February 16, 2006 GM and Toyota Ended Fuel Cell Discussions Last Year Source: Bloomberg
The meetings ended after the automakers couldn't agree on intellectual property issues, according to people familiar with the talks, who asked not to be identified because the discussions were private. Japan's Asahi newspaper said yesterday that GM and Toyota planned to discontinue the research. The end of the plan means each automaker will have to spend more money to develop independent systems than they might have had they cooperated. Toyota, GM and other automakers are working to create vehicles that rely less on gasoline as energy prices increase and governments pass stricter laws controlling emissions. Toyota, the world's No. 2 automaker behind GM, already is the largest producer of vehicles powered by a combination of gasoline and electricity. GM won't have the so-called hybrids until 2007. Renee McClelland, spokeswoman of Detroit-based GM, declined to comment on the talks between the two companies. ``We're currently negotiating with GM on joint research and development on cutting-edge technology,'' said Hideki Fujii, a Toyota spokesman in Tokyo. ``Toyota considers our research with GM as very important and would like to decide as soon as possible, but we can't comment on details and timing.'' Basic Research GM has already spent about $1 billion on research on fuel cells and plans to develop technology for a fuel-cell model by 2010 that will be competitive with gasoline models, GM Chief Executive Rick Wagoner said last year. The fuel cell discussions, which GM had called ``Project Apollo,'' started in October 2004, three executives from the two companies said in May 2005. There were several meetings from May until late in the year, when the two companies decided they couldn't agree, sources from both companies said. The two automakers are still discussing a relationship to share basic research in areas such as electrical components used in fuel cells and other future powertrains, GM's McClelland said. That partnership, started in 1999, is expected to continue beyond a March 31 expiration date, the people familiar with the situation said. Fuel cells rely on hydrogen, which reacts with oxygen to create electricity, to power the vehicle. The only emission is water vapor. Hybrid systems combine gasoline engines and electric motors powered by battery packs. Cutting Oil Dependence In 2003, U.S. President George W. Bush pledged $1.2 billion to help automakers develop and sell hydrogen-fueled vehicles by 2020 to reduce pollution and U.S. reliance on foreign oil. GM, which lost $8.55 billion last year, is trying to save money by developing technology with other automakers. GM is cooperating with DaimlerChrysler AG and Bayerische Motoren Werke AG of Germany to develop a hybrid system to compete with Toyota. General Motors said on Feb. 1 that it will spend $118 million to add production of the hybrid system at a transmission plant near Baltimore. It will produce systems for each of the three automakers. GM and Ford Motor Co. also worked together to design a six- speed transmission that will help both automakers produce more fuel-efficient cars and trucks.
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