Daimler invests in hydrogen fuel infrastructure

October 1, 2013 0 By John Max

Hydrogen fuel infrastructure needed for new generation of vehicles to succeed

The global auto industry has shown a great deal of support for hydrogen fuel in recent years. So much so that many of the world’s leading automakers have plans to launch hydrogen-powered vehicles within the next five years. The auto industry faces many challenges in bringing hydrogen fuel to the transportation sector, of course, the most significant of which may be infrastructure. The lack of appropriate infrastructure could mean that hydrogen-powered vehicles are doomed to fail. The companies invested in hydrogen transportation are not willing to allow this to happen.

Daimler teams with oil and gas companies

German automaker Daimler has teamed with five oil and industrial gas companies to invest more than $500 million in the development of a hydrogen fuel infrastructure in Germany. The country is already home to a somewhat robust network of hydrogen fuel stations, but the infrastructure is not capable of supporting the mass adoption of hydrogen-powered vehicles. Daimler hopes to build some 400 new hydrogen fuel stations throughout the country by 2023, up from the 15 that are currently active in Germany.

Daimler hydrogen fuelDaimler continues to promote hydrogen transportation

Hydrogen-powered vehicles are already on the roads, but most of these vehicles exist as demonstrations rather than consumer models. Daimler has worked to promote the capabilities and benefits of hydrogen-powered vehicles and has managed to generate some hype behind the concept of clean transportation. While consumers have become more enthused about hydrogen-powered vehicles, the lack of a comprehensive infrastructure is likely to prevent people from actually purchasing these vehicles. As such, much of the auto industry has been investing in the development of hydrogen fuel stations around the world.

Auto industry begins focusing heavily on infrastructure

Daimler has plans to launch its hydrogen-powered vehicles within the next five years. Germany is expected to be one of the company’s primary markets for these vehicles, hence its efforts to bolster the country’s fuel infrastructure. Other automakers have similar plans, hoping to launch their own hydrogen-powered vehicles in the near future. Hyundai is the first of these companies to begin mass producing hydrogen-powered vehicles in 2012.

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