Four new members join the H2 Mobility Switzerland Association: Camion Transport Ltd., G. Leclerc Transport AG, F. Murpf AG and Tamoil Ltd.
Promising results after the first year of existence of the association: eight heavyweights of the Swiss transport and mobility industry as well as petrol station operators have already responded to the call of the seven founding members of the H2 Mobility Switzerland Association who are committed to this particularly environmentally friendly form of electric mobility. Today, its 15 members represent a network of over 2’000 filling stations and a fleet of over 4’000 heavy commercial vehicles throughout Switzerland. They have the ability to set up the H2 infrastructure in Switzerland on a private-sector basis and to put the world’s largest fleet of hydrogen-electric commercial vehicles into operation by 2023 – kick-off: at the end of 2019!
In May 2018, seven major Swiss companies founded the H2 Mobility Switzerland Association with the aim of actively and commercially promoting environmentally friendly hydrogen-electric mobility in Switzerland. One year later, the association already has 15 members. Camion Transport Ltd., G. Leclerc Transport AG, F. Murpf AG and Tamoil Ltd. were confirmed by the Management Committee at the beginning of May 2019.
Jörg Ackermann, President of the H2 Mobility Switzerland Association, takes stock after one year: «First of all, I would like to welcome our new members and the commitment with which they actively support this clean form of electric mobility. With a network of more than 2’000 filling stations and a fleet of more than 4’000 heavy commercial vehicles, our members have the potential to help this clean technology achieve a breakthrough in Switzerland – be it through the operation of hydrogen filling stations or the use of hydrogen-electric commercial vehicles.»
Josef Jäger, Director of Camion Transport Ltd., says on behalf of the four newest members: «With this technology you have to join up early. It offers us the ability to continuously and economically transport goods – but without any emissions.»
The clean energy cycle completes the circuit
The H2 Mobility Switzerland Association, founded a year ago, is actively committed to the development of the national infrastructure with the aim of establishing a nationwide network of hydrogen filling stations in Switzerland by 2023. At the same time, the members of the association agree to use only green hydrogen, 100 % of which is produced from renewable energy sources.
Another important factor in this environmentally friendly energy cycle is the availability of vehicles. Also in this respect, Switzerland is leading the way worldwide. From the end of 2019, the first of over 1’000 (!) hydrogen-electric commercial vehicles from Hyundai will be launched onto Swiss roads and will be used – primarily – by the members of the H2 Mobility Switzerland Association in everyday activity.
Jörg Ackermann insists: «The advantages are simply too impressive. Filling up in a few minutes and still driving electrically, with only water vapour as emissions, a comparable range, identical performance to diesel trucks and the certainty that only renewable energy sources are being used – these are convincing arguments for the customers, for the companies and for the implementation of the climate targets.»
Regarding the role of hydrogen in the Swiss mobility and energy system, Jörg Ackermann states: «This form of electric mobility plays a useful and valuable role in the energy system because it is based on local resources and renewable energy sources. In order for the system to get off the ground, both ‹chicken and egg› – i.e. the filling stations, the fuel and the vehicles – must now enter the market at the same time. That is precisely what becomes possible through the commitment of our association members. They are building the nationwide infrastructure in order to, in future, refuel fuel-cell electric vehicles – passenger cars and commercial vehicles – with hydrogen in Switzerland.»
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