Ford, Daimler-Benz and Ballard to Join Forces to Develop Fuel-Cell Technology for Future Vehicles
15 December 1997
Ford, Daimler-Benz and Ballard to Join Forces to Develop Fuel-Cell Technology for Future Vehicles
STUTTGART, Germany, Dec. 15 -- A significant global alliance
to develop fuel cell technology was announced today among three leaders in the
field -- Ballard Power Systems of Canada , Daimler-Benz AG
and Ford Motor Company .
The three companies signed a memorandum of understanding today in
Stuttgart, with the expectation that final agreement will be reached within a
few months.
The agreement would ally two of the world's foremost companies in
automotive technology with the fuel cell industry's leading developer and
manufacturer, in order to accelerate the development of fuel-cell-powered
components for cars and trucks.
"Ford sees this partnership as a natural complement of the talent, skills
and technology among the three companies," said Ford Chairman Alex Trotman.
"We have been working on the technology to support fuel cell vehicles for many
years and view fuel cells as one of the most important technologies for the
early 21st century. With our collaborative efforts, we think we can
accelerate the commercial viability and implementation of fuel cell vehicles."
Jurgen E. Schrempp, Chief Executive Officer of Daimler-Benz, expressly
welcomed the new alliance and stated, "This cooperation is impressive evidence
of the fact that the fuel cell represents a serious and promising alternative
to the conventional combustion engine."
Firoz Rasul, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ballard, said,
"Through Ballard's relationship with Ford and Daimler-Benz, we have the
strength, resources and commitment to bring the fuel cells to volume
commercial production."
Ballard Power Systems is the world leader in the development of proton
exchange membrane fuel cells. Daimler-Benz has unique expertise in research
into alternative drive systems and automotive fuels. Ford is highly regarded
for its advanced electric vehicle powertrain technology.
Fuel cells, which generate electricity from hydrogen and oxygen to power
vehicles, have the potential to provide the size, range, roominess and speed
of conventional cars and trucks while emitting little more than water vapor
into the atmosphere. The alliance aims to have fuel cell powertrains
available to support commercialization of fuel cell vehicles by 2004.
Fuel cells should have three key advantages over batteries for electric
vehicles. Fuel cells should cost less, they don't have the range limitations
batteries do, and they don't have the durability limits and replacement costs
of battery packs.
According to the agreement, Ballard will be responsible for fuel cells,
with Daimler-Benz and Ford holding 20% and 15% of Ballard Power Systems Inc.,
respectively.
Daimler-Benz will be the majority owner of DBB Fuel Cell Engines GmbH,
responsible for fuel cell systems, with Ballard and Ford holding about 26% and
23%, respectively.
Ford will be the majority owner of a new company responsible for electric
drivetrain systems, with Ballard and Daimler-Benz owning 19% each.
Ford's total investment in the partnership will be about Can. $600 million
(U.S. $420 million), comprised of cash, technology and assets.
Background Technical Information:
Fuel cell applications range from small, portable emergency electricity-
generating power plants, distributed power plants in the range up to one
megawatt in size and engines to power cars, buses, trucks, rail vehicles and
ships to satellites and space stations. The major advantage of this
technology is that it offers low -- or even zero -- emission levels for a
higher degree of efficiency.
A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that produces electricity
silently and without combustion. Hydrogen fuel, which can be obtained from
natural gas or methanol, and oxygen from the air are electrochemically
combined in a fuel cell to produce electricity and heat with pure water as the
only by-product. It is important to prevent the two gases coming into direct
contact and they are therefore separated by means of an electrolyte membrane.
The various types of fuel cell are identified by the different electrolytes
used.
A PEM fuel cell consists of two electrodes, the anode and the cathode,
separated by a polymer electrolyte. Each of the electrodes is coated on one
side with a platinum catalyst. Hydrogen fuel dissociates into free electrons
and protons (positive hydrogen ions) in the presence of the platinum catalyst
at the anode. The free electrons are conducted in the form of usable electric
current through the external circuit. The protons migrate through the
membrane electrolyte to the cathode. At the cathode, oxygen from the air,
electrons from the external circuit and protons combine to form pure water and
heat, to obtain the desired amount of electrical-power-generated individual
fuel cells in a stack. Increasing the number of cells in a stack increases
the voltage, while increasing the surface area of the cells increases the
current.
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) are best suited for mobile
applications -- cars or buses -- because of their operating temperatures of
between 20 and 100 degrees centigrade and their high power density. They can
be operated with hydrogen derived from fuels such as methanol or natural gas
and with oxygen derived from normal air. PEMFCs have been demonstrated in
transportation, stationary and portable power applications.
SOURCE Ford Motor Company
