Fuel cell technology is a key element of Daimler’s powertrain strategy – alongside efficient internal combustion engines with hybrid options and alternative fuels. As a pioneer in this technology, Daimler started its research and development activities in the mid-1990’s.
Currently, more than one hundred Daimler fuel cell vehicles are in service on four continents around the world. Together they have clocked up a great deal more than two million miles as they go about their daily business. The fleet includes 60 Mercedes-Benz A-Class F-Cells operating in the U.S., Germany, Japan and Singapore. The top workhorses are the 36 Citaro fuel cell urban buses that have been in service in ten European cities, Beijing, China and Perth, Australia since May 2003.
These fuel cell vehicles are part of a worldwide field trial to further develop the technology to a volume production level by seeing how the vehicles perform under real-world conditions. In addition, they are also incorporated into a variety of cooperative endeavors which are examining not only the fuel cell drive itself, but hydrogen technology as a whole. One important example of this is The California Fuel Cell Partnership, of which Daimler is a founding member.
