Tokyo  - Nissan has started extensive testing of a fuel-cell prototype SUV based on the Nissan X-Trail that it hopes to have ready for serial production in 2015, reports said.

Compared to a previous model, the latest X-Trail FCV generation power output has been boosted from 90 to 130 kW. At the same time, the fuel cell stack has been reduced in size from 90 to 68 litres, giving the engineers more flexibility in the packaging, the German auto-motor-sport magazine reported.

The use of expensive raw materials such as platinum has been significantly reduced leading to a cost reduction of 35 per cent. Engineers are now working on improving the life span of the fuel cell battery stack, according to the report. (dpa)