2009-09-10 13:35:04 -
London, September, 10, 2009
Corporate news announcement processed and transmitted by Hugin AS.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this
announcement.
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* Leading industrial companies agree upon a built-up plan for a
nationwide infrastructure
* Significant expansion of hydrogen fuelling stations network by
the end of 2011
* Important milestone on the way to emission-free mobility
* Leading vehicle manufacturers pursue the development and
commercialisation of electric vehicles with fuel cell.
Commercialisation with several hundred thousand units anticipated
from 2015 onwards
Berlin, 10 September 2009 - Today leading industrial companies signed
a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Berlin with the participation
of the German Minister of Transport, Wolfgang Tiefensee. The
agreement intends the evaluation of the setup of a hydrogen
infrastructure in Germany so as to promote serial production of
electric vehicles with fuel cell. This marks a major step towards the
commercialisation of such locally emission-free vehicles. The
partners of the initiative "H2 Mobility" are Linde, Daimler, EnBW,
OMV, Shell, Total, Vattenfall and the NOW GmbH National Organisation
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology. Thereby the co-operation is also
open for further partners interested in the project.
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. This has been made
possible by the continuous commitment of a significant number of
industrial stakeholders and comprehensive support by the German
government with the common aim of preparing for the commercialisation
of electric vehicles with fuel cell and embedding hydrogen- and fuel
cell technologies in the future powertrain portfolio. Current
demonstration projects like the Clean Energy Partnership involving
fuel retail companies, utility providers and engineering companies
have shown that the production, storage, transportation and
deployment of efficient equipment for compressed gaseous hydrogen are
technically feasible. Moreover, leading automobile manufacturers
recently announced a joint statement on the development and market
introduction of electric vehicles with fuel cell. From 2015 onwards
they anticipate several hundred thousand units over life cycle on a
worldwide basis. The MoU goes back to a joint initiative by Daimler
and Linde aimed at providing sufficient hydrogen fuelling station
infrastructure, which is the key to establishing electric vehicles
with fuel cell on the market.
The MoU comprises two phases. Phase One includes the evaluation of
options for an area-wide roll-out of hydrogen fuelling stations in
Germany and the definition of a joint business plan agreement
including an analysis of possible public support measures. In Phase
One partners intend to leverage plans to install new hydrogen
fuelling stations by 2011. This will take place within the framework
of the German economic stimulus package (Konjunkturpaket II) and
other national and state programmes to jointly address
standardisation and cost reduction issues.
Subject to the positive and satisfactory outcome of such a business
case agreement the partners will implement the corresponding action
plan in Phase Two. The nation-wide roll-out of hydrogen fuelling
stations will be continued, supporting the introduction of series
produced hydrogen powered vehicles in Germany around 2015.
Wolfgang Tiefensee, Minister for Transportation, Building and Urban
Affairs:
"Today, 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. Today we can see that Germany is setting the pace when it
comes to hydrogen and fuel cell technology. We are aiming at
establishing the nation-wide supply with hydrogen in Germany at
around 2015 in order to support the serial-production of fuel cell
vehicles."
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 commercialise 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."
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Reitzle, CEO Linde AG:
"Our jointly expressed commitment to hydrogen-based mobility sets the
course for a low-emission and environmentally friendly future. We see
ourselves as pioneers in the field of hydrogen technology and will do
everything we can to live up to our aspirations with our
accomplishments in the areas of hydrogen production, storage,
distribution and fuelling technology."
Dr. Klaus Bonhoff, Managing Director (Chair) NOW GmbH Nationale
Organisation Wasserstoff- und Brennstoffzellentechnologie:
"This commitment of market leading companies is a cornerstone for
sustainable mobility in the future. Leveraging the ongoing NIP this
MoU is the basis for a considerable contribution of industry partners
and the federal government paving the way for the commercialisation
of hydrogen vehicles."
Hans-Peter Villis, CEO EnBW AG:
"Regardless of whether vehicles are refuelled with hydrogen or
electricity, it remains a fact that these innovative drive
technologies will only be sustainable with a reliable infrastructure
and only with CO2-free electricity for hydrogen production or for
recharging batteries. EnBW will support both technologies - with its
technological know-how in the power generation field and its large
proportion of CO2-free electricity."
Dr. Dieter Tuppinger, Managing Director OMV Refining and Marketing
GmbH Deutschland GmbH:
"In its role as supplier, OMV sees an ongoing responsibility to make
future fuels available close to the customer in response to future
changes. For example, additional hydrogen fuelling stations in the
decades ahead can support the development and series production of
competitive vehicles with fuel cell technology - for more efficient
mobility without local emissions."
Dr. Peter Blauwhoff, Chairman of Management Board of Deutsche Shell
Holding:
"The tasks facing us can only be mastered by cooperation between the
industries involved and with support from governments. The agreement
signed today leaves the door open for new partners. And that is
essential in view of the challenges that still need to be tackled. It
thus marks an important step towards solving the problems of
establishing a hydrogen infrastructure in Germany."
Michel Mallet, Managing Director, Total Deutschland GmbH:
"Our field experience gained over the years in siting Hydrogen
Refuelling Stations in Germany has allowed us to demonstrate that
hydrogen based technologies may provide a sound answer to clean
mobility. A significant leapfrog for both hydrogen vehicles &
infrastructure deployments is now required, and this agreement
intends to achieve this ambitious target."
Udo Bekker, Member of the Board, Vattenfall AG:
"With its climate protection strategy 'Making Electricity Clean',
Vattenfall is pressing ahead with the expansion of environmentally
sound individual mobility. By means of hydrogen produced using power
from renewable energy sources, we will supply a low-emission fuel and
ensure 'green' mobility. In Hamburg we are already putting this into
practice: by the end of this year we will start work there on the
construction of Europe's biggest hydrogen filling station."
The hydrogen fuelling station infrastructure in Germany
The setup of a public hydrogen infrastructure is crucial for the
successful introduction of fuel cell vehicles. First hydrogen centres
have been established in urban agglomerations such as Berlin and
Hamburg. Seven of the current thirty hydrogen fuelling stations in
Germany are integrated into public gas stations. Germany thereby has
a leading position regarding the hydrogen infrastructure in Europe.
Already five to ten hydrogen fuelling stations can secure a first
supply in a major city. By connecting those urban agglomerations
-such as Berlin and Hamburg - with supply corridors on main arteries,
the essential prerequisites for a nationwide development are created.
The fuel cell fleet
A fleet of 40 hydrogen vehicles is part of the Clean Energy
Partnership (CEP) in the key regions 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 already presented the first fuel
cell vehicle in 1994. Since then the company invested more than one
billion Euros 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 Stuttgart holds one of the largest fuel
cell vehicle fleets of passenger cars and buses worldwide. The small
series production of the B-Class F-CELL will start at the end of
2009. The first prototype of the new generation of fuel cell buses
will also be presented this year.
Press Contacts
Uwe Wolfinger, Linde AG, Head of External Communication,
Phone: +49 89 35757-1320, uwe.wolfinger@linde.com
Julie Heinl, Federal Ministry for Transport, Buildung and Urban
Development, Spokesperson,
Phone: +49 30 2008 2094, julie.heinl@bmvbs.bund.de
Eva Wiese, Daimler AG, Head of Technology and Environmental
Communications,
Phone: +49 711 17-92311, eva.wiese@daimler.com
Johanna Mertins, EnBW AG, Dep. Spokesperson,
Phone: +49 721 6314290, j.mertins@enbw.de
Thomas Bauer, OMV Deutschland GmbH, Communication Manager,
Phone: +49 871 769-3111, thomas.bauer@omv.com
Axel Pommeraenke, Shell Deutschland Oil GmbH, Communications Manager,
Phone: +49 40 6324 5644, axel.pommeraenke@shell.com
Delphine Saucier, Total Deutschland GmbH, Head of Corporate
Communications,
Phone: +49 30 20 27 62 31, Mobile +49 162 1 333 000,
delphine.saucier@total.de
Stefan Müller, Vattenfall Europe AG, Head of External Communications,
Phone: + 49 30 8182 2320, stefan.mueller@vattenfall.de
Tilman Wilhelm, NOW GmbH Nationale Organisation Wasserstoff- und
Brennstoffzellentechnologie, Head of Communication,
Phone: +49 30 311 611 615, Tilman.Wilhelm@now-gmbh.de
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