To af verdens største lastbilgiganter, Daimler Truck AG og Volvo Group, har offentliggjort, at de indgår et samarbejde for at udvikle brint- og brændselscelleløsninger til den tunge transport. Mastodonterne indgår som ligeværdige partnere i et joint-venture selskab, og formålet er mindske omkostningerne og optimere indsatsen ved at dele deres viden og erfaring inden for brint- og brændselscelleområdet.
Det er dog kun i indsatsen for en udvikling og kommercialisering af brint- og brændselscelleteknologier, at parterne samarbejder – de er fortsat konkurrenter på alle øvrige felter.
Målet er at være drivende kraft i omstillingen af vejgodstransporten, som også i fremtiden er afgørende for et velfungerende samfund.
I en pressemeddelelse i forbindelse med offentliggørelsen af det nye samarbejde udtalte Martin Daum, topchef for Daimler Truck AG:
Transport and logistics keep the world moving, and the need for transport will continue to grow. Truly CO2-neutral transport can be accomplished through electric drive trains with energy coming either from batteries or by converting hydrogen on board into electricity. For trucks to cope with heavy loads and long distances, fuel cells are one important answer and a technology where Daimler has built up significant expertise through its Mercedes-Benz fuel cell unit over the last two decades. This joint initiative with the Volvo Group is a milestone in bringing fuel cell powered trucks and buses onto our roads.
Martin Lundstedt, adm. direktør for Volvo Group, bakker op om dedikationen til omstillingen af godstransporten:
Electrification of road transport is a key element in delivering the so called Green Deal, a carbon neutral Europe and ultimately a carbon neutral world. Using hydrogen as a carrier of green electricity to power electric trucks in long-haul operations is one important part of the puzzle, and a complement to battery electric vehicles and renewable fuels. Combining the Volvo Group and Daimler’s experience in this area to accelerate the rate of development is good both for our customers and for society as a whole. By forming this joint venture, we are clearly showing that we believe in hydrogen fuel cells for commercial vehicles. But for this vision to become reality, other companies and institutions also need to support and contribute to this development, not least in order to establish the fuel infrastructure needed.
Læs mere her.