TOKYO, July 30 (Reuters) - Nissan Motor Co Ltd said on Tuesday it plans to sell its first fuel cell car next year, speeding up its original plans for a launch in 2005.
"We are advancing it by two years," Nissan Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn told a news conference.
Emitting only heat and water as by-products, fuel cells use an electrochemical process to create electricity by mixing hydrogen with oxygen.
But hydrogen in its natural gaseous state is difficult to store and distribute, making full commercialisation difficult.
Nissan is Japan's third largest carmaker. Honda Motor Co , Japan's second-largest automaker, said last week it will likely put its first fuel-cell vehicle on the market by the end of the year.