New state-of-the-art facilities cover individual process stages of fuel cell production: from membrane coating and stack production to fuel cell unit construction. "We are pursuing the vision of carbon-neutral transportation of the future. The hydrogen-based fuel cell is a key technology of strategic importance. We are now consistently pursuing the path towards series production of fuel cells and are thus doing absolute pioneering work - beyond the vehicle industry. We will be investing a considerable amount in this over the next few years," says Martin Daum, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler Truck AG and member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG.

Challenge: Highly complex and highly sensitive products
Traditional industrial production processes cannot be directly transferred to the complex and highly sensitive fuel cell stacks. For example, the processing of numerous delicate components takes place in the micrometer range. The slightest contamination could impair the functionality of the fuel cells, which is why a clean room with filtered air is being set up for some of the work steps in the planned pre-series production. Optimizing the ambient air in production is also particularly important, as even slight fluctuations in temperature and humidity can lead to significant changes in the material. This would make further processing in downstream processes considerably more difficult. However, the biggest challenge for the Daimler experts is achieving a short production cycle time, which is essential for cost-effective production. For this reason, the experts also make partial use of technologies from the packaging industry in the production of fuel cell stacks, for example - something that is not generally used in conventional engine production.

Fuel cell joint venture with the Volvo Group
In April of this year, Daimler Truck AG and the Volvo Group signed a provisional, non-binding agreement to establish a new joint venture for the development and marketing of fuel cell systems for use in heavy commercial vehicles and other applications. The joint venture draws on the expertise of Daimler Truck AG and the Volvo Group. The production of fuel cell systems is also to become part of the joint venture. Daimler Truck AG and the Volvo Group are planning to offer heavy-duty fuel cell commercial vehicles for demanding and heavy-duty long-distance transportation in series production in the second half of the decade.

Fuel cell activities bundled across the Group
In order to facilitate the joint venture with the Volvo Group, Daimler Truck AG is bundling all Group-wide fuel cell activities in the subsidiary Daimler Truck Fuel Cell GmbH & Co KG. This also includes the allocation of the activities of Mercedes-Benz Fuel Cell GmbH. Daimler Truck Fuel Cell GmbH & Co KG is to be transferred to the planned joint venture at a later date. Daimler has already built up significant fuel cell expertise over the past decades with its site in Nabern/Germany and other production and development facilities in Germany and Canada.