Kia Motors joins industry leaders to urge action on hydrogen infrastructure

Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor, Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation/Opel, Honda Motor Co Ltd, the alliance Renault SA and Nissan Motor Corporation and Toyota Motor Corporation have signed a joint ‘Letter of Understanding' addressed to all oil and energy companies and governmental organisations to push forward the development of hydrogen refuelling stations in each region, ahead of the carmakers' launch of FCEVs.

A hydrogen infrastructure network with sufficient density is required by 2015," the automakers said in a joint statement. The network should be expanded from metropolitan areas along corridors to give area-wide coverage.

The companies "strongly support the idea of building-up a hydrogen infrastructure in Europe and at the same time develop similar concepts for the market penetration of hydrogen infrastructure in other regions of the world, with the US market, Japan and Korea as further starting points.

Kia's FCEV program has been gaining momentum with plans in place to start limited series production by 2012. Kia plans to expand its demo fleet of FCEV´s to 200 units by 2010, including SUVs and city buses and then ramp up production from 2012.

FCEV's are part of Kia's "EcoDynamics" strategy, an eco-initiative which will bring to the market a range of products and technologies designed to reduce CO2 emissions and improve fuel efficiency. Kia will reveal the EcoDynamics sub-brand for the first time in Europe at next week's 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, where the company has created a special EcoDynamics Zone to exhibit a wide array of its new eco-friendly technologies and products.

Kia has been taking part in a number of real-life tests for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles including the California Air Research Board project and recently its latest generation Mohave FCEV completed a major proving run from Los Angeles to Seattle.

Credits: JRC