Fuel Cell Punch List, More Fuels to be Deployed

December 28, 2003 – Vol.8 No.40

FUEL CELL PUNCH LIST, MORE FUEL CELL VEHICLES TO BE DEPLOYED.

Within the text of its press release regarding the deployment of a number of DaimlerChrysler F-Cell fuel cell vehicles to United Parcel Service (UPS), the company has included an unofficial outline of the work ahead to commercialize hydrogen fuel cell cars.

Keep in mind under that each task is a whole series of sub-tasks that need to be accomplished to make it all work. Use DaimlerChrysler’s words to organize your own punch list:

-- The cost of fuel cell vehicles must be reduced to compete with conventional engine technology.

-- ... the production of hydrogen fuel and the development of a refueling infrastructure need to be established and standardized.

-- ... To enable the fuel cell to go on the market in the foreseeable future ... fuel and infrastructure issues must be clarified in a worldwide initiative...

-- ... (that is) jointly with the political community...

-- ... (that is jointly) with the mineral oil industry...

-- ... (that is jointly) with the energy sector.

-- Development engineers, too, still face numerous challenges...

-- ... the reduction of weight...

-- ... (reduction) of cost...

-- ... improvement of reliability...

-- ... (improvement) of durability...

DaimlerChrysler says that expansion of its U.S. fuel cell vehicle fleet will be in Detroit, Michigan, Sacramento and Los Angeles, California. The company expects to have 60 Mercedes Benz A-Class F-Cell vehicles on the road world-wide by the end of 2004.