Japan to Speed Approval Process for Hydrogen Filling Stations

Japan currently has only nine hydrogen filling stations, making the sale of fuel-cell-powered cars difficult in the country.

The government has set a goal of opening 100 hydrogen facilities by March 2016. To meet that ambitious target, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is proposing steps to cut the inspection time from four to two weeks and reduce related paperwork 80%, The Nikkei reports.

The government also will encourage construction of smaller and less expensive hydrogen stations. The big facilities currently in operation each cost about 500 million yen ($4 million), according to the newspaper. It says smaller units, such as a solar-powered home device developed by Honda Motor Co. and Iwatani Corp., would cost about 25% as much.

But smaller units won't be arriving soon because Japan has no safety standards for them. The ministry expects to unveil the necessary regulations in the next fiscal year, The Nikkei says.

In the meantime, the ministry plans to ask the Japan Automobile Federation road club to set up an emergency hydrogen delivery service for stranded drivers of fuel-cell cars.