Daimler Truck AG CEO Martin Daum and Volvo Group CEO Martin Lundstedt together announced the start of the "cellcentric" project at a special digital event they organized. cellcentric will develop, manufacture and market fuel cell systems. Although the company's focus is on the use of hydrogen-based fuel cells in long-haul trucks, the systems can also be applied in different areas. Acting for CO2050 neutral and sustainable transport in Europe by 2 as part of the European Green Deal, cellcentric draws on decades of know-how and development work from both Daimler Truck AG and the Volvo Group.
From the point of view of Daimler Truck AG and Volvo Group; fully electric and hydrogen-based fuel cell trucks complement each other, depending on the way of use. The lighter the load and the shorter the distance, the more often the battery will be used. The heavier the load and the longer the distance, the more the fuel cell will be engaged.
Martin Daum, Chief Executive Officer of Daimler Truck AG and Member of the Executive Board of Daimler AG “Hydrogen-based fuel cell driven electric trucks will be a key technology for the zero CO2 emission transport of the future. Together with all-battery electric motors, we will offer our customers the best CO2 neutral alternatives depending on local applications. This of course will not be possible with battery electric trucks alone. With our fuel cell joint venture cellcentric, which we run with our partner Volvo Group, we are taking firm steps forward to develop technology and start mass production. As the necessary hydrogen infrastructure, green hydrogen stands out as the only logical way in the long run. " said.
Evaluating the new collaboration Volvo Group CEO Martin Lundstedt “It is the priority of all of us to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement by 2050 at the latest and thus become CO2 neutral. We believe hydrogen-based fuel cell technology will play an important role in achieving the CO2 neutral target. This encompasses much more than just switching machines and vehicles to electric. A more comprehensive cooperation between public and private sector players is needed to develop the necessary technology and infrastructure. That's why we call on political authorities, governments and decision-makers around the world to act together to bring hydrogen-based fuel cell technology to success. Partnerships like Cellcentric are strategically important to make road freight transport carbon-neutral. " He spoke in the form.
Target by 2030, 1.000 hydrogen filling stations in Europe
Europe's major truck manufacturers, including Daimler Truck AG and the Volvo Group, demand the construction of about 2025 high-performance hydrogen filling stations for heavy commercial vehicles by 300 and about 2030 hydrogen filling stations in Europe by 1.000 at the latest. does. The Cellcentric joint venture aims to use hydrogen as an environmentally friendly energy source in long-distance electric trucks, which are very important for road freight transportation to be carbon-neutral.
CO2 neutral trucks are currently much more expensive than conventional vehicles. Therefore, a legal regulation is needed that encourages both demand and profitability. Daimler Truck AG and Volvo Group advocate a tax system based on CO2 and energy type, as well as incentives for CO2-neutral technologies. Emissions-based trading system is another option.
Fuel cell systems and fuel cell trucks are targeted to go into mass production
Currently working on plans for large-scale production, cellcentric plans to announce a production point in 2022. As an important step on the road to mass production, prototype production was accelerated while pre-production preparations continued in Esslingen, near Stuttgart.
Daimler Trucks AG and Volvo Group want to start customer testing of fuel cell trucks in about three years and go into series production in the second half of this decade. Daimler Truck AG and Volvo Group, which carry out all vehicle-related activities independently of each other, continue to be competitors at this point. This process also applies to the integration of fuel cells into vehicles with the entire vehicle and product portfolio.
Joint venture for fuel cell systems
Daimler Trucks AG and Volvo Group established the cellcentric joint venture on March 1, 2021. For this purpose, the Volvo Group uses Daimler Trucks Fuel Cell GmbH & Co. It acquired 50 percent of KG for about 0,6 billion Euros. Daimler Truck AG and Volvo Group signed a binding agreement to establish the joint venture in November 2020. In April of the same year, a non-binding preliminary agreement was signed.
Over 300 experts work for Cellcentric on teams located in Nabern, Stuttgart and Burnaby (Canada). Approximately 700 individual patents have been granted to date. These patents underscore the company's pioneering position in technological development.
Be the first to comment