SFC Energy AG announces the signing of a new partner agreement with Toyota Tsusho Corporation making Toyota Tsusho an official representative of SFC in Japan. A first order of EFOY Pro fuel cells has already been shipped for sale by Toyota Tsusho in Japan. Following careful and thorough analysis Toyota Tsusho has chosen SFC Energy as the right partner based on reliability, performance and quality as well as the maturity of the product. Toyota Tsusho concluded that there is a large potential for EFOY Pro fuel cells in the growing back-up power, off-grid seismic, meteorological, environmental, safety and surveillance markets in Japan. And the environmental friendliness of the SFC Energy's fuel cells has been identified as a special benefit in the Japanese market.
Toyota Tsusho is one of Toyota Motor Corp. group companies. As Toyota group's sole general trading company Toyota Tsusho promotes the development of new business from a global perspective. Both Toyota Tsusho and SFC Energy see a large market opportunity for SFC Energy's EFOY Pro fuel cells in Japan. With over 33,000 systems sold, the mature, reliable, environmentally friendly off-grid power sources are an ideal answer to the growing need for readily available stationary and mobile off-grid power in Japan.
As more and more seismic equipment, sensors, measuring and surveillance devices and other technical instruments are used far away from the grid. Operators are looking for alternatives to Diesel generators, which are loud, vibrate and require much maintenance as well as to solar panels, which only operate in good weather. During power generation, an EFOY Pro fuel cell produces only water and small amounts of carbon dioxide. The fuel cell is fully automatic and enables extremely long unattended and uninterrupted operation of devices in the field, creating major logistic and cost advantages. It can be remote controlled and available in several easy to use plug and play versions.
"We believe that the addition of the EFOY Pro fuel cells to our diversified Toyota Tsusho portfolio will bring optimum benefit and flexibility to our customers and will further strengthen our position in the alternative energy sector", says Assistant General Manager, Mr. Takahiro Sugitani of Toyota Tsusho.
"The collaboration with Toyota Tsusho is a key step to grow in Japan. We have fuel cell experts as new partners to capitalize on the growing needs for off-grid and back-up power in the important Japanese market", says Dr. Peter Podesser, CEO of SFC Energy. "Our fuel cells offer major benefits everywhere, where reliable, uninterrupted power is imperative for the continuous operation of strategic equipment away from the grid, in any weather and climate."
