European premiere at IAA Transportation: cellcentric gives exclusive insights into NextGen fuel cell system for sustainable heavy-duty transportation

Discover the European premiere of the cellcentric NextGen fuel cell system for heavy-duty transport at IAA Transportation 2024. Explore the virtual 3D model and learn about the launch of mass production for a carbon-neutral future. Visit us in Hannover, Hall 24, Stand C11.

European Premiere of cellcentric NextGen Fuel Cell System at IAA Transportation 2024: Exclusive Insights and Start of Mass Production

Esslingen/Hannover (Germany) – As a sustainable solution for CO2-neutral mobility in global road transportation, cellcentric will be presenting a virtual model of its NextGen fuel-cell system for long-haul heavy-duty transport for the first time at the IAA Transportation in Hanover, Germany from September 16 to 22 (Hall H24, booth C11). This virtual model provides a preview of the dimensions and design of the game changing new generation of fuel-cell systems. With a total weight of less than 400 kg, this new system is designed for conventional 13-liter diesel engine compartments. The new single-packaging fuel-cell system will combine high efficiency and performance with market leading TCO. In addition, the system is characterized by higher operating temperatures and lower cooling requirements*.

NextGen fuel cell system:
Target performance figures (*vs. benchmark fuel cell system BZA150)

Up to 375 kW (more than 500 horsepower) continuous net power

40% reduction of waste heat at 300 kW net power*

Current BZA150 production of fuel cell systems in Esslingen (Germany) is a milestone towards reaching CO2-neutral mobility in the heavy-duty transport of tomorrow, utilizing highly efficient industrial-grade production processes. Furthermore, the industrialized pilot production in Esslingen marks another step towards the arrival of Europe's largest fuel cell production facility – the new KLIMA|WERK factory in Weilheim – which is planned to open towards the end of the decade.

Start of ramp-up to highly efficient large-scale production

cellcentric develops, produces, and markets fuel cell systems for use in heavy-duty commercial vehicles as the focus as well as offroad applications. cellcentric is a joint venture founded in 2021 between Daimler Truck AG and the Volvo Group. The company utilizes the know-how and extensive experience gained from decades of developing fuel cell systems by its predecessor companies. cellcentric’s goal is to become a leading global manufacturer of fuel cells and thus making a contribution to climate-neutral and sustainable transportation by 2050. More than 560 highly qualified employees are driving our state-of-the-art fuel cell technology forward. They work in interdisciplinary teams at our sites in Nabern, Stuttgart-Untertuerkheim, Esslingen (Germany) and Burnaby (Canada). Around 700 individual patents granted, underline the company’s leading role in technological development.

About cellcentric

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Virtual model shows the design of NextGen fuel cell system

Important step towards CO2-neutral mobility in global road transportation

Industrial-grade prototype production now in operation and preparation of large-scale series production of fuel cells towards the end of the decade is ongoing

Pioneer in Europe with the aim of producing fuel cell systems on an industrial scale with a high level of vertical integration

Exclusive insights at IAA Transportation 2024: European premiere of the cellcentric NextGen fuel cell system

European premiere at the IAA Transportation: cellcentric presents at the leading international trade fair in Hanover

Exclusive insights at the IAA Transportation 2024

Esslingen/Hannover (Germany) – European premiere at IAA Transportation: cellcentric presents a virtual 3D model of its future NextGen fuel cell system for heavy- duty transport for the first time at the leading international trade fair in Hanover (September 17 to 22/press day September 16, Hall 24, Booth No. C11). The study provides a preview of the dimensions and design of the game-changing new generation of fuel cell systems. At the same time, cellcentric announces performance data for the efficient single-packaging fuel cell system, which will offer market-leading TCO.

Highly efficient large-scale production about to start

The virtual 3D model signals the start of cellcentric’s NextGen, the highly efficient and competitive single-packaging fuel cell system designed for long-haul heavy-duty transportation, which will offer market-leading TCO. Following the development phase and prototype production of fuel cell systems, cellcentric is now initiating the preliminary stage of highly efficient industrial production by taking first steps and preparing for high-scale production in the recently inaugurated factory in Esslingen. Also, the pilot production at cellcentric’s Esslingen site marks the step towards preparing Europe’s largest fuel cell production in a new factory in Weilheim – the KLIMA|WERK – that is planned towards the end of the decade.

Fuel cell deep dives: From Tuesday, September 17, to Sunday, September 22, cellcentric offers an informative expert presentation at its booth at 11:00 am and 3:00 pm. Let us know if you’re interested. You can find further information and the opportunity to book an individual appointment with our experts by clicking here: cellcentric @ IAA Transportation 2024

Useful information

cellcentric_IAA Transportation_Exclusive insights in NextGen.pdf

Fuel cell system for heavy-duty transportation in a virtual 3D model for the first time

 European leading fuel cell manufacturer takes the first steps from prototype production to highly efficient large-scale production

Important step towards CO2-neutral mobility in global road transport

cellcentric starts pilot production of fuel cell systems

cellcentric inaugurates pilot production in Esslingen for fuel cell systems, marking a key step toward mass production and advancing CO2-neutral mobility in heavy-duty transport. The goal is full-scale production at the Weilheim site by the end of the decade.

cellcentric Launches Pilot Production of Fuel Cell Systems for Long-Haul Trucks – cellcentric

Esslingen/Germany – A key milestone for the climate-neutral transport of tomorrow: cellcentric inaugurates pilot production for fuel cell systems at the Esslingen-Pliensauvorstadt site, taking another significant step towards large-scale production. cellcentric is working towards supplying fuel cells on a large scale by the end of the decade, when fuel cell powered long-haul heavy-duty trucks are predicted to become a key technology for sustainable transportation.

cellcentric’s goal is to develop, produce and distribute fuel cell systems on a large scale in the German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg that achieve the best possible total cost of ownership (TCO) in the highly competitive transportation industry. In addition, cellcentric intends to cover the entire fuell cell ecosystem – from the product itself to maintenance and recycling at the end of its life cycle.

“Fuel cell technology is a well-proven solution for CO2-neutral long-distance heavy-duty transportation. However, it has not yet been produced on an industrial scale, which is precisely the key to achieving economies of scale, optimizing the total cost of ownership (TCO) and putting cellcentric in a solid competitive position in the long term,” says Lars Johansson, Chief Commercial Officer and Chief Organizational Officer of cellcentric GmbH & Co. KG. “The opening of our pilot production facility in Esslingen today is not the end point of large-scale production, but rather the blueprint for the next step. In the coming years, we will continue to consistently drive forward the industrialization and scaling of production of fuel cell systems at the Weilheim site,” explains Johansson.

On June 20th, Lars Johansson and the cellcentric management team welcomed numerous guests from politics, business, associations, science and research to the opening ceremony, including Baden-Wuerttemberg state ministers Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut (Economics, Labor and Housing) and Thekla Walker (Environment, Climate and Energy) as well as Heinz Eininger, the district administrator of Esslingen, and the mayors of Esslingen, Matthias Klopfer, and Weilheim, Johannes Zuefle.

Fuel cell systems for sustainable heavy goods transport on the way to mass production

cellcentric’s modern production facility in Esslingen-Pliensauvorstadt is the ideal location to produce fuel cell systems. More than 100 employees have over 10,300 square meters of production, logistics and office/administration space at their disposal. The property in the immediate vicinity of the federal highway 10 is part of the Esslingen industrial park greenfield.

In a next step, cellcentric will establish the necessary production processes at the site to prepare for the start of a large-scale production of fuel cell systems with a high degree of vertical integration. With complete production at one location and a high level of automation, the company secures stable long-term economic development.

The complete process chain comprises the following production steps:

Ink Mixing & Coating – Precise mixing of the various raw materials to produce a dispersion for subsequent roll coating.

Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) – The roll-to-piece process assembles and puts together the components of the individual cell in a highly automated process in a cycle time suitable for large-scale production.

Sealing – Injection molding process applies seals in fully automated process.

Stacking – Automated stacking of the complete fuel cell stack.

Assembly – All modules of the fuel cell system are assembled according to automotive mass production standards.

Inline Quality Testing – Strict automated inspection and quality control protocol that accompanies all steps in the production process to identify and rectify faults quickly and reliably. It ensures continuous compliance with all quality requirements until the product is ready for delivery.

Fuel cell ecosystem beyond the product life cycle

In addition to the development and production of fuel cell systems for heavy-duty transportation, cellcentric will create a complete ecosystem around the highly complex assemblies. This will provide customers with products of unique quality while enabling seamless integration of the drive solutions into the vehicle management system. Moreover, a comprehensive service package including all maintenance and repair services will ensure that maintenance-related downtimes and unforeseen failures or breakdowns are reduced to a minimum for users – an important criterion in the transport industry for the best possible utilization of vehicle capacity.

Ultimately, cellcentric is planning an environmentally friendly return of the fuel cell systems at the end of their life cycle, in line with the company’s commitment to the highest possible level of sustainability in all corporate processes. Based on the concept of the circular economy, cellcentric’s cyclical approach aims to use resources, materials and products as considerately and sparingly as possible in four steps:

These include the Reuse of decommissioned fuel cell systems for other applications with a lower requirement profile, Refurbishment, a reconditioning and recycling of fuel cell systems for a longer useful service life, Remanufacturing – the total overhaul to refurbish and make the systems as good as new again -, and the recovery of raw materials and reuse in new fuel cell production through Recycling.

Sustainable propulsion technology for global heavy-duty transportation

In May 2024, cellcentric presented its smaller, more powerful and efficient NextGen fuel cell system for sustainable hydrogen-powered long-haul trucks for the first time at the ACT Expo in Las Vegas, USA. In addition, with the BZA150 fuel cell generation, the company has a close to series production and already practical pilot product that has been successfully tested by the truck manufacturers Daimler Truck and Volvo Group in demanding field tests. Series production of the NextGen fuel cell system is scheduled to begin at the end of the decade.

Further pictures are available for download at:
https://cellcentric.net/en/media/

cellcentric develops, produces, and markets fuel cell systems for use in heavy-duty commercial vehicles as the focus as well as for other areas of application outside vehicles. cellcentric is a joint venture founded in 2021 between Daimler Truck AG and the Volvo Group. The company utilizes the know-how and extensive experience gained from decades of developing fuel cell systems by its predecessor companies. cellcentric’s goal is to become a leading global manufacturer of fuel cells and thus making a contribution to climate-neutral and sustainable transportation by 2050. More than 520 highly qualified employees are driving our state-of-the-art fuel cell technology forward. They work in interdisciplinary teams at our sites in Nabern, Stuttgart-Untertuerkheim, Esslingen (Germany) and Burnaby (Canada). Around 700 individual patents granted, underline the company’s leading role in technological development.

cellcentric combines 30 years of expertise in fuel cell technology, backed by Daimler Truck AG and Volvo Group. Our goal: To enable climate-neutral and sustainable mobility worldwide by 2050. Explore career opportunities and contribute to a cleaner future.

cellcentric – Leading Manufacturer of Fuel Cells for Sustainable Mobility by 2050

cellcentric's mission is to become a leading global manufacturer of fuel cells, enabling the world to take a major step towards climate-neutral and sustainable mobility by 2050.

We power sustainable life

With the combined forces of Daimler Truck AG and the Volvo Group, we bring together 30 years of extensive experience in developing safe and efficient world-class fuel cell systems. By using hydrogen in our fuel cells, we produce energy with no emissions other than pure water.

A new company on the fuel cell market with over 30 years of experience

With the impressive combination of decades of fuel cell expertise and the start-up spirit of a newly founded organisation, our company is the ideal place to work. cellcentric offers the best conditions for your job, your career and your personal development. From taster internships for school students, to jobs as working students, to direct entry for experienced professionals.

Career at cellcentric

Help the world take a major step towards climate-neutral and sustainable mobility. With the combined forces of the Daimler Truck AG and the Volvo Group AB, we bring together 30 years’ worth of extensive experience in developing safe and efficient world-class fuel cell systems.

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