Korean car manufacturer Kia is the latest carmaker to add their weight behind a joint ‘Letter of Understanding’ being sent out to governments, energy companies and other organisations to develop accessible hydrogen infrastructure for future fuel cell electric vehicles.
Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation/Opel, Honda Motor Co Ltd, the alliance Renault SA and Nissan Motor Corporation and Toyota Motor Corporation have declared that “A hydrogen infrastructure network with sufficient density is required by 2015” The network should be expanded from metropolitan areas along corridors to give area-wide coverage.
The companies “strongly support the idea of building-up a hydrogen infrastructure in Europe and at the same time develop similar concepts for the market penetration of hydrogen infrastructure in other regions of the world, with the US market, Japan and Korea as further starting points.”
While Kia’s FCEV program will see a limited number of demo vehicles used in real world environments the company is targeting 2012 as the beginning of production. FCEV’s are part of Kia’s EcoDynamics strategy, an initiative which will bring to the market a range of products and technologies designed to reduce CO2 emissions and improve fuel efficiency.
The new Kia eco-brand will receive its European premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
