Blue World Technologies has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the fast-moving new energy vehicle manufacturer AIWAYS, with the purpose of supplying the market with vehicles powered by methanol fuel cells for fast refuelling and long-range.
During the Chinese International Import Expo 2019 (CIIE 2019), taking place these days – 5-10 November 2019 – in Shanghai, Blue World Technologies joined partners, German Gumpert AIWAYS, developer of methanol fuel cell performance cars, and AIWAYS, Chinese manufacturer of high-end electric vehicles, in the presentation of the methanol fuel cell technology. At the “Global Automotive Development Forum” at CIIE, hosted by China-Europe Association for Technical and Economic Cooperation (CEATEC) on 7 November, Blue World Technologies signed a Cooperation agreement with AIWAYS for the development and supply of methanol fuel cell system for their vehicles.
“We strongly believe that methanol is the way to go in the transition for green liquid fuels – but we also need to create a technology for our cars that will help us overcome the environmental challenges we are facing with severe air pollution. Therefore, we have made this strategic cooperation with Blue World Technologies to provide both the methanol fuel cell components to our cars as well as to support the development with their extensive knowledge and experience with the methanol fuel cell technology”, Mr. FU Qiang, President, and Co-founder of AIWAYS, stated after signing the agreement.
Later this year, AIWAYS will launch the battery-electric version of their SUV U5 to the market, and towards the end of 2021, the U5 will also be launched in a methanol fuel cell hybrid version. Blue World Technologies and AIWAYS is already in the process of developing the system design ensuring easy integration in the existing platform, in addition to long-range and fast refuelling by liquid methanol.
“At Blue World Technologies, we are very pleased that we – with the signing of the strategic cooperation agreement – are intensifying our close relationship with AIWAYS. With a fast-moving approach and a strong focus on quality and driving experience, AIWAYS is without a doubt the right player to lead the way to commercial success for the methanol fuel cell vehicle”, says Anders Korsgaard, CEO and Co-founder of Blue World Technologies.
China first-mover on methanol
Back in March, Eight Chinese ministries led by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issued a Methanol Vehicle Policy with an aim to deploy methanol fuelled vehicles across China. Already, China is the country worldwide with the largest production and consumption of methanol, and the sustainable potential of methanol are substantial. The potential of producing methanol as a CO2 neutral fuel with recycled CO2 from either a concentrated CO2 source or using direct air capture was of high value to AIWAYS when making the decision to enter the cooperation with Blue World Technologies on the development of methanol fuel cell technology. With an electrical efficiency of 45 %, the Blue World Technologies methanol fuel cell system based on high-temperature PEM technology ensures the efficient and cost-effective use of methanol as an alternative to fossil fuels.
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