Breaking: Daimler and Ford join forces with AFCC to develop automotive fuel cells
Daimler AG and Ford Motor Company today announced the creation of a new company called Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation (AFCC) devoted to the development of fuel cells. The new company also includes a third partner, Ballard Power Systems. The majority stakeholder of the company is Daimler (50.1 percent), followed by FoMoCo (30 percent) and Ballard (19.9 percent).
Both car companies firmly believe that fuel cells remain the most viable solutions to produce a zero-emission vehicle and they're aiming to make it a reliable and affordable technology for creating energy. Ballard's interest in this partnership is relieving its focus from the automotive fuel cell and emphasize their future efforts on the marketing of non-automotive fuel cell applications.
The press release also mentions near-term intentions of mass producing fuel cell vehicles. Daimler introduced its first fuel cell car in 1994 and currently has more than 100 vehicles on the road with this technology. On the other hand, Ford is testing 30 Focus in seven cities.
Continue reading the press release after the jump
[Source: Daimler AG and Ford Motor Company]
DAIMLER AG, FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO BECOME PRIMARY STAKEHOLDERS IN NEW AUTOMOTIVE FUEL CELL COOPERATION
- Ballard Power Systems transfers division for fuel cell applications in passenger cars to new company called Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation
- Daimler and Ford are primary stakeholders in the new privately-held company
- Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation marks an important step for the fuel cell alliance between Daimler, Ford and Ballard and allows each to concentrate on their area of expertise
- The new company will be a technology leader in fuel cell technology for cars and buses
VANCOUVER, CANADA – Nov. 8, 2007 – Daimler AG and Ford Motor Company are forming a new, privately-held company that will focus on automotive fuel cell technology and allow the two automakers to further expand their global leading position in fuel cell technology. With a share of 50.1 percent, Daimler AG will be the majority stakeholder in the new company, Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation (AFCC). Ford Motor Company will hold a 30-percent stake and Ballard Power Systems the remaining stake of 19.9 percent in AFCC.
"We have identified the future fields of activity and key technologies for zero-emission mobility and we are investing specifically in expanding our competencies in these fields," said Dr. Thomas Weber, member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG with responsibility for Group Research as well as for Development within Mercedes-Benz Cars. "Our majority stake and partnership with Ford in Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation is a logical step in this direction."
- "The fuel cell remains one of the most viable solutions to develop a sustainable, zero-emissions vehicle," said Dr. Gerhard Schmidt, Ford vice president for Research and Advanced Engineering. "The creation of the Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation is an investment in our future. Fuel cells are the technology of the future and we are happy to be working with a great partner like Daimler to advance this technology. Through this partnership, we will work even harder to make fuel cell technology even more reliable and affordable for the future."
- The creation of AFCC will allow Daimler and Ford to concentrate on automotive fuel cell technology while Ballard will emphasize their future efforts on the marketing of non-automotive fuel cell applications.
"Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation will orient its activities even more intensively to the specific requirements we make on fuel cell stacks," said Prof. Dr. Herbert Kohler, Vice President with responsibility for Advanced Vehicle and Powertrain Engineering and Chief Environmental Officer of the Daimler Group. "With the newly founded company, we strengthen our leading position in the field of fuel cell technology and go full steam ahead in our preparations for the series production of fuel cell cars."
Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation will be managed by Daimler and Ford with their collective 80.1 percent stake in the new company, while Ballard will hold the remaining stake of 19.9 percent. In return, Daimler AG and Ford will retransfer their total stake in Ballard. The new company will employ approximately 150 people.
Fuel Cells at Daimler AG
A pioneer in fuel cell technology, Daimler introduced the world's first fuel cell vehicle in 1994. Today, the company has more than 100 fuel cell vehicles on the road accumulating more than 3.7 million kilometers (2.3 million miles) in everyday operation with customers to date.
Fuel Cells Part of a Broader Effort at Ford
Ford Motor Company currently has a fleet of 30 hydrogen-powered Focus fuel cell vehicles on the road as part of a worldwide, seven-city program to conduct real world testing of fuel cell technology. The 30-car fleet has accumulated more than 965,000 kilometers (600,000 miles) since its inception in 2005.
Ford also is conducting tests with the world's first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, the Ford Edge with HySeries Drive. The Ford Edge with HySeries Drive uses a series electric drivetrain with an onboard hydrogen fuel cell generator to give the vehicle a range of 225 miles with zero emissions.
Ford currently offers gasoline-electric hybrids including the Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid. The company will begin production of hybrid versions of the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan in 2008.
About Daimler AG
Daimler can look back on a tradition that stretches back over more than 100 years and is marked by the pioneering achievements of automotive engineering. Today, the company is a leading supplier of premium passenger cars as well as the world's largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles. With its strong brands and its comprehensive portfolio of automobiles from compact cars to heavy-duty engine trucks, Daimler, with 271,486 employees, is active in nearly all countries in the world. For more information regarding Daimler's products, please visit www.media.daimler.com .
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 260,000 employees and about 100 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.fordvehicles.com.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
TX CHL Instructor 11:17AM (11/08/2007)
"The fuel cell remains one of the most viable solutions to develop a sustainable, zero-emissions vehicle," said Dr. Gerhard Schmidt, Ford vice president for Research and Advanced Engineering.
Guess we can write off Ford, too. Gotta wonder what their definition of 'viable' looks like.
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Kardax 11:54AM (11/08/2007)
Well, you know he's not going to come out in a press release and say "hydrogen will never work, but we keep trying in order to justify the billions we've already spent" :)
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Lou Grinzo 1:23PM (11/08/2007)
I REALLY want to believe that hydrogen fuel cells are The Future of Transportation. But until someone shows me how you can produce, distribute, and dispense all the hydrogen needed to fuel hundreds of millions of vehicles, just in the US, and do it in an environmentally acceptable fashion and cheaper than alternatives, I ain't buyin' it.
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GoodCheer 1:53PM (11/08/2007)
I find this surprising news, especially since Ballard just sold their automotive fuel cell branch.
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/11/06/ballard-says-fuel-cells-not-worth-it-confirms-rumors-its-selli/
I suppose it's all just industrial maneuvering.
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A.Brien 9:52AM (11/09/2007)
They should invest in on-board water electrolysers instead. Fuelcells are already invented, produced,
and tested.
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Gay Mullins 2:59PM (3/31/2009)
The on board H2O generator is the Unitized Regenitive Fuel Cell using a single PEM to both ionize H20 on charge and to generate power upon bringing together the hydrogen and oxygen for Electrical poiwer generation. The action is well understood by the system developed by Liveremore Labs for the high flying planes and made by Proton Energy Systems in Conn.
Chris M 3:46PM (3/31/2009)
So, what powers an "onboard electrolyzer"? The best professional water electrolyzers are only 60% efficient, home-made ones a lot less, which means 40% or more of the electrical energy it uses is wasted. A typical H2 PEM fuel cell is only 50% efficient, so the combination of electrolyzer and fuel cell is at best only 30% efficient, 70% of the electrical energy that goes in is wasted, only 30% would be available to run the motor. clearly, such a device cannot even run itself, let alone provide any power. Much better to use a battery and charger to store electrical energy with an efficiency of 85%!
clearly, such a device cannot even run itself, let alone provide any power. Anyone who trys to tell you different is either deceived, deluded, or a liar.
Gay Mullins: The "Regenerative fuel cell" you mentioned can act as a fuel cell combining H2 and O2 to produce electricity, and can be reversed to act as an electrolyzer, using electricity to split water into H2 and O2, but it cannot do both at the same time. It is subject to the same limitations mentioned above and must be powered by an external energy source, with an overall efficiency below 40%. Ingenious, but of no real practical use.
gorr 4:56PM (3/31/2009)
you do not use electricity to power the fuelcell, you use hydrogen and the hydrogen is containe in water that we split.
Chris M 6:01PM (3/31/2009)
You've got it exactly right, Gorr, a H2 fuel cell produces electricity and requires H2 as a fuel. But water is a strong molecule, it takes a lot of energy to split H2 from the O, more energy than the fuel cell will produce when fed that H2.
Some outside source of energy will be needed.
gorr 7:19PM (3/31/2009)
I said that it's the water that provide the energy ad nauseam, again and again without cost and this process can be renewed as long as there is water in the mechanical system. there is even many exemple of this on youtube. Don't deny the first law of biology because it cause skin to become sick. i said and i repeat, we been ruin and poluted by toyota, kawasaki, suzuki, lawn boy and audi till they exist. all they done is just provide us with something that move forward but create some problems. I said to put on the market for cash one car near where i live powered by a water electrolyser. Manufacturers have the nasty habits of listening to the ones that negate the first invention for energy that is the water molecule. By buying their cars we are paying criminals like gm, ford, caterpillar, general electrics, etc.
IT services in the Philippines 6:59PM (11/21/2007)
I don't know much about cars but i surely did like this one ;-)looks convenient and fancy though!
two thumbs up FORD!
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