DaimlerChrysler Leads Fuel Cell Vehicle Development

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. and STUTTGART, Germany, Dec. 12 -- The Chrysler Town & Country Natrium continues DaimlerChrysler's leadership in designing, engineering, building and testing concept vehicles that demonstrate the most advanced fuel cell technology.

Beginning in 1994 with the world's first operating fuel cell-powered vehicle, the NECAR (New Electric Car) I, DaimlerChrysler has unveiled five generations of NECAR, plus the fuel cell-powered bus, the NEBUS, another industry first. The most recent in that series is NECAR 5, a methanol-fueled vehicle unveiled in 2000.

The luxury sport utility vehicle Jeep® Commander, introduced in 1999, demonstrated fuel cell engine technology with gasoline as the fuel. The second-generation Commander 2, introduced in 2000, is fueled by methanol.

DaimlerChrysler will market the first fuel cell city buses in 2002 and fuel cell-powered passenger cars in 2004. To meet those ambitious goals, DaimlerChrysler is investing more than $1.4 billion in fuel cell technology research and development during the period 2001-2004.

DaimlerChrysler has explored many different approaches to fuel cell powertrains.

The world's first operating fuel cell vehicle, NECAR 1 in 1994, was equipped with compressed hydrogen tanks to provide hydrogen to the fuel cells The NECAR 2 in 1996 used compressed hydrogen to power the fuel cell system in a Mercedes-Benz V-class van In 1997, the NEBUS began operation, running on compressed hydrogen The NECAR 3, also unveiled in 1997, was the world's first fuel cell car powered by methanol In 1999, NECAR 4 was unveiled, a Mercedes-Benz A-class compact car using liquid hydrogen fuel to achieve a 280-mile range and a top speed of 90 miles per hour in a zero emission vehicle. The fuel cell system is mounted in the vehicle floor, allowing room for up to five passengers and cargo To encourage development and commercialization of fuel cell vehicles, DaimlerChrysler is a founding member of the California Fuel Cell Partnership, an industry-government program based outside Sacramento, California. NECAR 4 and NECAR 4a, which runs on gaseous hydrogen, are part of the Partnership fleet.