DaimlerChrysler and UPS, the world’s biggest parcel service, are embarking on a joint venture to field-test and further develop the Mercedes-Benz fuel cell Sprinter van. The collaboration agreement, under which fuel cell models will be tested in commercial practice, was drawn up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in May 2003 at a meeting between DaimlerChrysler, UPS and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and a fuel cell Sprinter was handed over to UPS at the DaimlerChrysler plant in Düsseldorf on Thursday.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
The Mercedes-Benz fuel cell van has front-wheel drive and uses gaseous hydrogen as fuel, for which depot-based commercial vehicle operations are ideal. A genuine zero-emission vehicle, the Sprinter has a 55-kW electric engine which allows the van to achieve a top speed of 120 km/h (80mph) and a range of over 150 km (about 90 miles). The fuel cell technology on board does not restrict the Sprinter panel van’s cargo capacity.
This demonstration project will give DaimlerChrysler the opportunity to carry out further testing on its fuel cell vehicles, particularly with regard to fuel consumption, operation at low temperatures and performance. The project will provide EPA, DaimlerChrysler and UPS with valuable experience in the practical use of both fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen filling stations.
