Daimler, Linde and TOTAL open fifth hydrogen stataion
Daimler, Linde and TOTAL are expanding the German hydrogen infrastructure with the opening of a fifth hydrogen refuelling station in Baden-Württemberg. It is expected that by 2016, there will be 50 hydrogen filling stations, built and operated as part of the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP), which will supply Germany's metropolitan areas and main corridors. The Daimler-Linde initiative is participating in a total of 20 new H2 stations with a total investment of approximately €20 million. Daimler plans to start marketing competitive fuel -cell vehicles from 2017.  

Daimler, Linde and TOTAL are continuing their joint plans for the expansion of the German hydrogen infrastructure with the opening of a fifth hydrogen refueling station in Baden-Württemberg. This follows on the openings at the Geiselwind motorway service area—the first H 2 filling station on the autobahn—and at two locations in Berlin. More hydrogen filling stations will follow in the months ahead.

Hydrogen fueling technology is largely standardized at this point. Last year, Linde inaugurated the world’s first small-series production facility for hydrogen fuelling stations in Vienna. The TOTAL multi-energy station in Fellbach uses a compact 700-bar fuelling technology that is also suited for retrofitting existing, conventional filling stations.

By 2016, 50 hydrogen filling stations—built and operated as part of the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP)—will supply Germany’s metropolitan areas and main corridors. With 50 hydrogen filling stations, nationwide mobility between metropolitan areas and along the main traffic arteries will be possible throughout Germany.

As part of this expansion program, the Daimler-Linde initiative is participating in a total of 20 new H 2 stations with a total investment of approximately €20 million (US$22 million).

Daimler plans to start marketing competitive fuel-cell vehicles from 2017. Fuel cell vehicles combine a high range of about 400 to 500 kilometers (250 - 311 miles) with a very short refueling time. The gradual expansion of the H 2 infrastructure represents one of the most important factors for a successful launch of such vehicles.

Linde, with around 100 filling stations set up in 15 countries, has for many years been a leader in hydrogen technology. The company operates the world's first small-series production facility for H 2 fuelling stations in Vienna, where it uses the IC90 ionic compressor, which was developed by Linde and combines advantages in power consumption, maintenance and noise.

TOTAL has been a trailblazer in building a Germany-wide H 2 service station infrastructure since 2002. Eight of the 19 public H 2 filling stations now open in Germany are TOTAL multi-energy service stations. Other hydrogen filling stations are planned in Ulm, Karlsruhe and at Cologne airport. In Fellbach, TOTAL paid for all construction and permitting costs, and handled the project management for building the hydrogen technology, including service and maintenance components.

The Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure supports the project as part of its National Innovation Program for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NIP). The program is managed by NOW GmbH (National Organization for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology).