Fuel cell electric vehicles in Japan and South Korea are expected to increase to 58,100 units in 2020 from 600 units in 2011, according to a new report from Frost & Sullivan.
The report finds that both Japanese and South Korean automakers are planning to commercialise fuel cell electric vehicles by 2015.
Frost & Sullivan research manager of Automotive & Transportation Practice for Asia Pacific Vijayendra Rao said that in 2011, the market for fuel cell electric vehicles in Japan and South Korea is limited to concept cars or fuel cell electric vehicles leased to fleets in urban areas.
"The OEMs are prepared for a 2015 commercialization of the FCEV market. Key Japanese auto OEMs such as Honda, Toyota and Nissan and South Korea's Hyundai//Kia are preparing their FCEV models for commercialization," Rao said.
Rao added that most OEMs in Japan and South Korea are likely to be focused on medium segment passenger FCEVs and in 2011, 22 hydrogen refueling stations were operational in both the countries with 11 in each country.
"Both the Japanese and South Korean governments are working towards the development of hydrogen refueling infrastructure that is expected to grow to 1,452 stations in 2020," Rao said.
