German government funds hydrogen-powered vehicle project
Mahle is part of the funding program for converting Ford-Werke GmbH vans to hydrogen operation.
Mahle (German automotive parts manufacturer) has been awarded funding from the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology as part of the New Vehicle and System Technologies program.
The three-year project, which started on 1st July this year, aims to convert Ford’s light commercial vehicles with conventional internal combustion engines to hydrogen operation. There are six other partners in the program, including automotive suppliers, logistics industries, research institutes, and universities.
As part of the project, the partners will build a demonstration vehicle for the first time. Mahle will develop and produce the prototype engine and valve train components for the hydrogen-powered engine with direct injection.
Michael Frick, CFO of the Mahle Group, said, “We consider hydrogen to be an important building block for sustainable road transport. Our participation in this future-oriented project is another aspect of the technological transformation of our company.”
Dr Marco Warth, Head of Product Development Engine Systems and Components, said, “As a partner in this groundbreaking project, Mahle can contribute its expertise in the field of hydrogen, test it in practice, and thus gain important insights for future product solutions.”
Mahle is working to advance climate-neutral powertrain technologies and maintains an open attitude to all technologies, including fuel cells. It considers the climate-neutral combustion engine, powered by hydrogen, to be one of the key future technologies for a sustainable powertrain mix.
In March 2021, Mahle commissioned a new test centre for hydrogen applications covering an area of 1,400 square meters at its Stuttgart location. It has invested € 2 million in the centre to expand its expertise in this field.
