f-cell: The fuel cell is part of electromobility

Stuttgart (eos) – The German government recently initiated a national development plan for electromobility: the sum of 500 million euro is to flow into the development of battery-driven vehicles and the necessary infrastructure, i.e. power filling stations. Is this a rejection of the fuel cell? Are electric cars to fill up with electricity from the outset and store it in a battery instead of filling up with hydrogen that fuel cells convert into electricity on board? During the fuel cell specialist forum “f-cell” on September 28 and 29 in Stuttgart, automobile manufacturers will provide unambiguous answers: “There is no either-or,” says Dr. Jörg Wind, responsible for electric vehicle research and hydrogen projects at Daimler in Kirchheim/Teck near Stuttgart. His company supports the “f-cell”, an international event organized by the Peter Sauber Agentur Messen und Kongresse as well as the Wirtschaftsförderung Region Stuttgart GmbH (economic promotion agency, WRS), and is committed to the fuel cell. “Vehicles driven purely by battery electricity have a problem with range, and this problem will persist. They are ideal for urban traffic, but we need the fuel cell for emission-free driving over longer distances.” Daimler recently demonstrated how far the technology has advanced by producing the B-Class F-CELL fuel cell passenger car under series production conditions.

Electric and fuel cell projects at one stop
The German government also clearly indicates that it is not a matter of promoting competition between vehicles driven purely with a battery-driven and fuel cell passenger cars – which, by the way, also have a battery to store energy and therefore profit from ongoing developments in this field. The government placed the implementation and coordination of the national development plan for electromobility, with its centerpiece, the electromobility model regions, in the hands of the National Organization for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NOW), which is already responsible for implementation of the National Innovation Program for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NIP). By the way, one of the model regions for electromobility – alongside seven others – is the Stuttgart region. The “f-cell” event co-organizer WRS coordinates the planned projects.

Various fuel and drive technologies side by side
“The promotion of future, alternative fuel, drive, and energy technologies is a holistic task,” explains Dr. Klaus Bonhoff, CEO of NOW, who will also give a lecture during the “f-cell”. “In future, various fuel and drive technologies will be placed side by side: Both fuel cells and batteries are key technologies here.” This appraisal is also reflected in Daimler’s concept. “The mobility of tomorrow will not be supported by a single solution,” says Dr. Thomas Weber, responsible in the Daimler board of directors for group research and the development of Mercedes-Benz cars. “The key to mobility in automobiles that is environmentally compatible and in line with requirements is a mix of drives consisting of internal combustion engines, hybrids, as well as battery and fuel cell drives.”

Wide range of lectures and trade fair diversity
Alongside the mobile applications, the speakers at “f-cell” will also cover the topics of stationary and portable use of the technology, with individual components, scientific innovations as well as market opportunities and strategies. Those who are interested will find the complete “f-cell” program and a current list of “f-cell” exhibitors on the internet at www.f-cell.de or can obtain information from the Peter Sauber Agentur Messen und Kongresse (telephone 0711-656960-51, Sibel Kadioglu).

Stuttgart, September 21, 2009