Daimler Truck has made a significant move toward establishing series production of fuel cell vehicles (FCV) with the creation of a new company, Daimler Truck Fuel Cell GmbH & Co. KG. The new company will bring together all of Daimler Truck’s fuel cell activities under one operation, a move it hopes will accelerate the development of new FCV solutions, particularly within the context of a forthcoming joint venture with Volvo Group.
“The fuel cell is a crucial CO2 -neutral solution for trucks in heavy long-distance transport,” explained Martin Daum, chairman of the board of management of Daimler Truck AG. “Our future joint-venture partner, Volvo Group, are convinced of this. We are determined to jointly tackle the development and series production of fuel cells. We will now bring together the great expertise and enormous wealth of experience from several decades of development work on fuel cells at Daimler – and combine it with the right know-how in connection with trucks.”
Dr Andreas Gorbach and Dr Christian Mohrdieck have been appointed managing directors of the new company, both bringing considerable experience in alternative drive systems technologies, in particular fuel cells. Gorbach was previously responsible for development of Daimler’s range of global engines and axles as well as the company’s sustainability strategy. Mohrdieck meanwhile has held various positions, including head of research and technology and, since 2008, has been in charge of the fuel cell and battery-drive development within Daimler.
Looking to further accelerate the commercialization of fuel cell technology, Daimler Truck is also planning to cooperate with British Technology Group Rolls-Royce on the development of stationary fuel cells. Rolls-Royce hopes to use fuel cells developed in a joint venture between Daimler and Volvo Group for use as emergency generators, which it supplies to operators of data centers.