Intelligent Energy at Unprecedented Showcase of Fuel Cell Electric Mobility Tech

Intelligent Energy, the global clean power systems company, has participated alongside some of the world’s biggest automotive manufacturers at an event in Paris hosted by Air Liquide, the world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment. The event showcased an unprecedented array of cutting-edge hydrogen mobility technology from the likes of Daimler, Honda, Hyundai, Michelin and Toyota, including a Fuel Cell Black Cab and Suzuki Fuel Cell Scooter, both powered by Intelligent Energy clean fuel cell engines.

Held in Marcoussis (south of Paris), Air Liquide invited public authorities and journalists to discover the technology’s high safety standards, maturity and efficiency. Attendees were given the opportunity to discuss hydrogen infrastructure roll-out readiness and to ride in vehicles, including the Fuel Cell Black Cab, to experience ‘real life’ driving conditions. For Air Liquide, the event was an opportunity to raise public awareness of the uses of hydrogen as a clean new energy carrier in order to enable the development of this field for sustainable mobility in France.

“Hydrogen technologies are already available, safe and efficient”, explained Pierre-Etienne Franc, VP Technologies of Future. “It is potentially a colossal market, thus it is worth committing early. A global automotive market share of 1 percent for fuel-cell-powered cars would represent 15 billion euros in sales for the industrial-gas industry.”

Intelligent Energy recently worked with PSA Peugeot Citroën in France to develop the H2Origin light urban delivery vehicles, which addressed issues associated with range limitations and extended recharging times of battery electric vehicles. Intelligent Energy has a number of Blue Chip partners including Scottish & Southern Energy and the Suzuki Motor Corporation. It has also demonstrated its zero emissions Fuel Cell Black Cab to London Mayor, Boris Johnson, with the Mayor commenting that the hydrogen taxi was a “shining example of British ingenuity”.

“Historically, infrastructure limitations and technology readiness had been perceived to be key factors behind some manufacturers’ reticence to deploy fuel cell cars on a wide scale. However, with programmes such as Germany’s H2Mobility and other similar work in Japan and South Korea focused on market deployment from 2015, combined with significant investments in infrastructure and fuel cell electric commercial readiness, these cars will start to become increasingly prevalent on the streets over the next few years,” said Dr. Henri Winand, CEO, Intelligent Energy. “Events such as the one organised by Air Liquide are important to assist with the deployment of fuel cell electric vehicles in France where, to date, there has been a lack of impetus. It is occasion to demonstrate the maturity of fuel cell electric vehicles and infrastructure to public authority figures and the media.”

About Intelligent Energy

Intelligent Energy is a global clean power systems company, with a range of leading fuel cell and hydrogen generation technologies. The company partners with leading global companies in the transportation, oil and gas, aerospace, defence, distributed generation and portable power markets. Current partners and customers include Scottish & Southern Energy plc and The Suzuki Motor Corporation, with whom Intelligent Energy built the Burgman Fuel Cell Scooter, a recent recipient of European Whole Vehicle Type Approval, which qualifies the scooter as safe to use on EU public roads. Other successes include developing the world’s first hydrogen fuel cell motorbike and supplying the fuel cell system to Boeing which powered the world’s first manned fuel cell aircraft.

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About Air Liquide

Air Liquide is the world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment, and is present in 80 countries with 43,600 employees. Oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen and rare gases have been at the core of Air Liquide’s activities since its creation in 1902. Using these molecules, Air Liquide continuously reinvents its business, anticipating the needs of current and future markets. The Group innovates to enable progress, to achieve dynamic growth and a consistent performance.

Innovative technologies that curb polluting emissions, lower industry’s energy use, recover and reuse natural resources or develop the energies of tomorrow, such as hydrogen, biofuels or photovoltaic energy… Oxygen for hospitals, homecare, fighting nosocomial infections… Air Liquide combines many products and technologies to develop valuable applications and services not only for its customers but also for society.