DaimlerChrysler Joins 'California Fuel Cell Partnership'
20 April 1999
DaimlerChrysler Joins 'California Fuel Cell Partnership' With Goal of Bringing Fuel Cell Technology to Production SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 20 -- DaimlerChrysler announced it
will test five fuel cell vehicles in California by 2001 as part of a unique
public/private partnership to demonstrate the viability of fuel cell cars as
an alternative drive solution.
DaimlerChrysler, along with the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the
California Energy Commission, Ballard Power Systems, Ford Motor Company, ARCO,
Shell and Texaco have created the "California Fuel Cell Partnership" to
advance automotive fuel cell technology.
"For the first time ever, fuel companies are joining with automobile
companies to demonstrate fuel cell vehicles under real day-to-day driving
conditions," said DaimlerChrysler Chairman Robert Eaton. "When we unveiled
our fifth fuel cell car, NECAR 4, in Washington, D.C. last month, we said cost
and development of a fuel infrastructure were key challenges. Today,
three major fuel companies are exploring the possibility of providing the
fueling infrastructure needed for the introduction of consumer fuel cell
vehicles."
The California Fuel Cell Partnership plans to place about 50 fuel cell
passenger cars and electric buses on the road between 2000 and 2003.
DaimlerChrysler's goal is to demonstrate 15 passenger vehicles in California
by 2003 as part of the project. The exact vehicle models have yet to be
determined.
In addition to testing the fuel cell under typical driving conditions, the
partners will identify fuel infrastructure issues and begin preparing the
California market for the new technology. The energy providers will supply a
variety of fuels for the demonstration project, including hydrogen, methanol
and potentially a cleaner type of gasoline. DaimlerChrysler is pursuing fuel
cell technology in all those fuels and was the first company to show driveable
fuel cell cars running on hydrogen and methanol.
"This partnership is another example of DaimlerChrysler's commitment to
continually improve automobile performance on all levels and take a leadership
position in new technologies such as fuel cells," said Dr. Ferdinand Panik,
head of DaimlerChrysler's Fuel Cell Project. "It is important for automobile
companies, government and energy providers to work together to develop
environmental solutions that are practical and meet customer demands.
"With NECAR 4, we proved that fuel cell vehicles are technically viable,"
Panik added. "But until now, we haven't had the critical support of the fuel
industry and government partners to examine all the infrastructure issues."
DaimlerChrysler's NECAR 4 is a zero-emission vehicle, which uses fuel cell
technology to generate electricity. NECAR 4, a concept based on the
Mercedes-Benz A-class compact car, can go up to 90 mph and travel nearly
280 miles before refueling, making NECAR 4's driving range greater than any
other zero emission vehicle. In addition, engineers have been able to mount
the complete fuel cell system in the vehicle floor for the first time allowing
room for up to five passengers with plenty of cargo space.
NECAR 4 generates 40 percent more power output from the fuel cell system
than its predecessor, NECAR 3. A quiet electric motor with optimized torque
generates up to 75 horsepower (55 kW). In addition, the energy density of the
fuel cell system (amount of energy generated per unit of weight) has increased
by a factor of four in five years, when NECAR 1 was introduced.
"NECAR 4 represented a major breakthrough in fuel cell technology because
we've developed a very powerful fuel cell system small enough to be packaged
in a compact car," Panik added. "Five years ago, you needed a large van to
contain all the fuel cell hardware. Now, that is simply no longer an issue.
Our main task is to significantly reduce the cost, weight and system volume of
fuel cell cars and to work in partnerships such as this to help develop a
fueling infrastructure.
"Fuel cells systems can give you the range of conventional gasoline
engines and the emission benefits of electric vehicles," Panik added. "They
are highly efficient, achieve extremely low emissions and have good driving
performance. In addition, we have the opportunity with fuel cells to create
vehicles that have the potential to run on a variety of renewable, alternative
fuel sources."
DaimlerChrysler is one of the world's leading automotive, transportation
and services companies. Its passenger vehicle brands include Mercedes-Benz,
Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth, Jeep(R), and smart. Commercial vehicles are
produced under the Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner, Sterling, and Setra brands.
The group also manufactures aircraft and equipment at DaimlerChrysler
Aerospace (DASA), provides railway systems through Adtranz, automotive
electronics through TEMIC, diesel engines through MTU Friedrichshaferi and
offers financial and other services through DaimlerChrysler Services (debis).
With 441,500 employees, DaimlerChrysler achieved 1998 revenues of
approximately $155 billion.
