Daimler Taking Part in Initiative to Build German Hydrogen Network

Hydrogen represents a future for green motoring around the world. The major problem with it is that there is practically no infrastructure to support refueling of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. The companies involved are investing €350 million in a plan in Germany that would bring 400 hydrogen stations by 2023. The plan called H2 Mobility is funded by Air Liquide, DaimlerDaimlerGermany, 1889 > present12 models
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, Linde, OMV, Shell and Total to create a national hydrogen-fueling network in Germany, and they will form a new joint venture to run the initiative.

Germany currently only has 15 hydrogen refueling sites, so the plan has a huge amount of work ahead of it.

The first step will be to build 100 hydrogen stations in Germany in the next four years. These sites would be located in major cities, and each city would receive 10 refueling stations by 2023. The goal is for there to be a refueling site every 90km along major motorways between major cities.

“However, filling stations for this environmentally friendly alternative fuel are still scarce,” said Dr. Thomas Weber, head of research and development at Mercedes-BenzMercedes-BenzGermany, 1924 > present197 models
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. “The “H2 Mobility” initiative wants to change this. By 2023 there should be more hydrogen filling stations in Germany, than there are conventional petrol stations along the Autobahns today.”

The companies have also requested support from the German government to improve the hydrogen distribution network in the country.

Germany will have its first fuel cell vehicles on sale in 2015, and the H2 Mobility plan believes that it will have a minimum number of refueling stations for the cars to be successful in major cities.