Mitsubishi Motors and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries are reportedly considering the joint development of an environmentally-friendly fuel cell vehicle, Kyodo News reports.

The development would help Mitsubishi, which has struggled in recent months, to revive its efforts under the leadership of heavy machinery maker Mitsubishi Heavy.

Late last month, Mitsubishi Motors announced a plan to seek revival of its businesses in partnership with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

Mitsubishi Heavy is a leader in the development of fuel cells, particularly in the field of polymer electrolyte fuel cells - which typically harnesses the properties of platinum in its catalytic reaction.

Polymer electrolyte fuel cell technology has already been employed by Toyota and Honda in their fuel cell vehicles.

The development project would follow the two Mitsubishi companies' joint development in 2001 of a vehicle powered by hydrogen extracted from methanol.