A consortium of companies have signed an agreement in Berlin in the presence of German Minister of Transport to introduction of a national network if hydrogen refuelling station in Germany by 2015.
The partners of the ‘H2 Mobility’ initiative are Daimler, EnBW, Linde, OMV, Shell, Total, Vattenfall and the NOWGmbH National Organisation Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology.
Leading industrial companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to evaluate the setup of a hydrogen infrastructure in Germany so as to promote serial production of electric vehicles with fuel-cell capability. The initiative known as “H2 Mobility” is supported by partners Daimler, EnBW, Linde, OMV, Shell, Total, Vattenfall and the NOWGmbH National Organisation Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology.
In recent years significant progress has been made in Germany, with the development of hydrogen based technologies in the mobility sector, identifying the country as a potential start-market in the context of a broader European perspective.
Wolfgang Tiefensee, Minister for Transportation, Building and Urban Affairs said: “after more than 100 years of combustion engines and the dominance of oil, we are facing a new technological era in the transport sector. Germany, with its excellent ideas from all over the country, is to become the market leader for modern drive technologies. This will secure and create new employment in the markets of the future. Our aim is to continue consistent and systematic promotion of electromobility based on batteries and fuel cells.”
Dr. Dieter Zetsche, CEO Daimler AG and head of Mercedes-Benz Cars: “The only tailpipe emission from fuel-cell vehicles is water vapor. That’s good for the environment and for people – and it’s the reason why we want to commercialize this technology as soon as possible. But the widespread adoption of fuel cells will only occur when drivers can readily refuel with hydrogen. To accomplish that end, we’re working together with oil companies, energy providers and public policy makers to help drive the development of the necessary infrastructure.”
Current demonstration project, the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP) has already seen a fleet of 40 hydrogen vehicles operating in Berlin and Hamburg. The CEP is aiming to demonstrate the suitability for daily use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel for vehicles and to test the infrastructure of hydrogen fuelling stations. Daimler who are part of CEP, have invested more than €1 billion into the development of fuel cells. With more than 100 test vehicles and over 4.5 million kilometres of test runs, the automotive manufacturer from Stuttgar tholds one of the largest fuel-cell vehicle fleets of passenger cars and buses worldwide. The small series production of the B-Class F-CELLwill start at the end of 2009.
