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Tuesday, 29th July 2008
In Business In Japan,

Panasonic developing the 'next generation' of fuel-cells in Kyoto

Electronics firm Panasonic has chosen the ancient Japanese city of Kyoto as the location for one of its most ambitious ecological projects.

As part of its Eco Ideas strategy, Panasonic is pioneering the use of fuel cells in private homes as a means of generating energy, reports This Week In Consumer Electronics.

The new generation of polymer electrolyte fuel-cell co-generators produce electricity and hot water through a chemical reaction involving hydrogen, oxygen and natural gas.

As a result, energy consumption is reduced in the average home by almost a quarter (22 per cent) and carbon dioxides emissions by 12 per cent.

Last month, Panasonic's new manufacturing facility went online in Kusatsu City, Shiga Prefecture.

In other fuel cell news, Honda recently delivered its first leased hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, the FCX Clarity, to customers in the US, reports Just-Auto.com.