Daimler to Shell Out Millions for Hydrogen Filling Stations

The car company is teaming up with other oil and gas businesses to build a network of hydrogen stations in Germany.

October 02, 2013

FRANKFURT, Germany – Daimler, along with five industrial gas and oil businesses, will work together to bring a network of hydrogen filling stations to Germany, Reuters reports. The companies will spend around $500 million on building the infrastructure to fuel fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).

Many automobile and oil industry experts view FCEVs as the best way to lower carbon emissions produced by road travel. A major setback to widespread manufacturer — and use by consumers — is virtually nonexistent refueling stations.

“By 2023 there should be more hydrogen filling stations than conventional ones on the autobahn (highway) today,” said Thomas Weber, who heads Daimler’s research and development.

Air Liquide, Linde, OMV, Shell and Total joined Daimler in the “H2 Mobility” group. The goal is to enlarge Germany’s network of hydrogen filling stations to around 400 within a decade. Right now, Germany has around 15 fuel-cell stations. H2 Mobility aims to have 100 stations up and running by 2017. Once all 400 or so are operational, Germany will have a hydrogen station every 56 miles along its motorway.

FCEVs refuel in less time than battery-powered electric vehicles, and the fuel-cell cars also have longer range between refueling. Linde and Daimler had already partnered together to invest millions to bump up the number of hydrogen filling stations to 20 within two years. By 2018, Daimler, along with Nissan and Ford, wants to have FCEVs available that cost around the price of a diesel-hybrid.

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