DaimlerChrysler Offers First Fuel Cell Vehicles for Customers
6 April 2000
DaimlerChrysler Offers First Fuel Cell Vehicles for Customers FRANKFURT, Germany, April 6 -- DaimlerChrysler is the first
automaker worldwide to offer fuel cell vehicles for sale. The company plans
to build 20 to 30 city buses with fuel cell drives during the next three
years, and then offer them for sale to transport operating companies in Europe
and abroad.
Speaking today at a press conference marking the start of the project,
Professor Klaus-Dieter Vohringer, the DaimlerChrysler Board of Management
member responsible for research and technology, said. "As a result of our
research and development activities the development of fuel cells for
automotive applications has reached a stage where we can now offer the first
vehicles to customers."
Wolfgang Diez, head of the Mercedes-Benz/Setra Buses business unit added,
"Buses built by Mercedes-Benz are distinguished by their innovative technology
and their contribution to sustainable mobility -- that's why it's only natural
for us to be the first to offer fuel cell technology to our customers. We
want to introduce our customers early on to technology that is particularly
suited to city traffic, because of zero emissions and significantly lower
noise levels."
The first vehicles are planned for delivery by the end of 2002. They will
be driven in normal traffic conditions for a period of two years. These bus
operations will also mark the first time that detailed evaluations can be made
on the basis of data from an entire fleet of vehicles.
"This first production step demonstrates that fuel cells have reached a
stage of technological maturity," said Professor Dr. Ferdinand Panik, head of
the DaimlerChrysler Fuel Cell Project. "At the same time, we are aware that
we have to reduce the cost, volume and weight of the fuel cell systems in
order to become competitive with internal combustion engines. We have decided
to begin a dialog with our future customers at this early stage so that they
can gain experience with this new technology."
EvoBus GmbH, a wholly-owned subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler, will supply the
Mercedes-Benz Citaro low-floor city buses with fuel cells at a price of $1.2
million (1.25 million euros) each. The price includes comprehensive technical
consulting and on-the-spot maintenance by EvoBus for a period of two years.
DaimlerChrysler will provide the transport operators with guidance and
expertise on preparing a fuel infrastructure.
DaimlerChrysler considers fuel cells to be the alternative drive system
with the greatest long term potential. They have either very low levels of
emissions or none at all, and are extremely quiet and energy efficient,
thereby making an important contribution to sustainable mobility.
DaimlerChrysler has performed tests using methanol, hydrogen and a purer form
of gasoline to power fuel cell vehicles. It is also the first automobile
manufacturer to put fully functional, hydrogen and methanol driven fuel cell
vehicles on the road. Hydrogen is particularly suited to fleets in public
transport systems since the vehicles can regularly return to a central filling
station. The emission-free, low-noise, hydrogen fuel cell buses are
especially suited to city traffic.
The fuel cell driven Citaro now being offered for sale is the successor to
the NEBUS (New Electric Bus). In 1997, NEBUS-a prototype based on the low-
floor city bus O 405 N-became the first Mercedes-Benz fuel cell driven bus to
hit the streets.
The Citaro's fuel cell unit delivers more than 250 kilowatts of power. It
was developed and manufactured by the DaimlerChrysler subsidiary Xcellsis,
with fuel cell stack provided by Ballard Power Systems. The gas pressure
bottles containing compressed hydrogen are mounted on the roof of the bus.
The environmentally friendly bus can travel up to 186 miles (300 kilometers)
at a top speed of 50 miles per hour (80 km per hour) and carry around 70
passengers.
The electric motor, transmission, drive shaft and mechanical rear axle are
all located at the rear of the bus. This ensures smooth low-floor design and
easy access during maintenance. The bus also includes three doors for optimal
passenger flow.
