Daimler to Manufacture Fuel Cells in North America

Soon after German automaker Mercedes Benz finished the first ever world tour with hydrogen-powered vehicles, the flood gates seem to have opened to allow a brave new electric world to poor in. Last week, Mercedes announced it will build a network of hydrogen fuel stations across Germany. Now, the source of the fuel cells that will power its cars has been revealed.

Called Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation (AFCC), the new company which will help Daimler enter the world of EV manufacturers will comprise Ford and Ballard Power Systems. The new company will be located in Canada, where it will produce fuel cell systems for the B-Klasse F-Cell and Citaro FuelCell Hybrid.

"Germany's economy is booming and the fuel cell industry is on the verge of a major breakthrough. International companies and government initiatives have created the optimal conditions for companies to prosper, especially in Germany's high-tech eastern regions," said Juergen Friedrich, chief executive of Germany Trade & Invest in Berlin.

As said, Daimler will begin mass producing fuel cell EVs soon, following the successful world tour which ended last month. To support their market entry, a much more difficult task than the one of regular EVs, Daimler and Linde will install 20 hydrogen filling stations in Germany. Three of Germany's main cities were selected for the project, Stuttgart, Berlin and Hamburg, along with two other unnamed ones, on the north-south and east-west axes.

In all, the German car making giant is expected to spend EUR700 million on various fuel cell support programs, research and development.