Suzuki Motor Corporation has developed a compact fuel cell vehicle based on the  SX4 model and has received approval from Japan’s Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to test it on public roads.

Suzuki has been developing fuel cell vehicles in partnership with General Motors (GM) since 2001. So far, it has tested three fuel cell Mini vehicles on public roads with ministerial approval: the MR Wagon-FCV and Wagon R-FCV in October 2003 and the MR Wagon-FCV again in December 2004.

The SX4-FCV delivers superior running performance by means of a GM-made high-performance fuel cell, a Suzuki-developed 70MPa hydrogen tank, and a light, compact capacitor that recovers energy during brake application and uses it to reduce fuel cell loading during acceleration. Suzuki plans to test the SX4-FCV on public roads in Japan and use the results in development aimed at future commercialisation.

As part of its support for the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit, which begins on 7 July, Suzuki will show the SX4-FCV in the Environmental Showcase exhibition and demonstration area at the summit’s International Media Centre.