Ford Opens Advanced Research Center in Germany / World

Fuel Cell Council on Hand to Mark Occasion Aachen, Germany (PROTEXT) - Ford has opened an advancedresearch center in Aachen, Germany, bringing commercialization offuel cell vehicles another step closer to reality, the World FuelCell Council reported. During the opening event, Ford MotorCompany Chairman William Clay Ford, Jr. with reference to hisgreat grandfather's famous quote, declared, "customers can haveany vehicle they want, as long as it is green. " Marcus Nurdin, executive director of the World Fuel CellCouncil, adds, "I foresee a future where customers will be ableto have any vehicle they want, as long as it's a fuel cellvehicle." The Ford Forschungszentrum Aachen (FFA) work will includeresearch related to alternative powertrain technologies, such asfuel cell technology. Mr. Ford noted, "We believe fuel cellsoffer great promise ... and we intend to lead the way indelivering on that promise for the next generation familyvehicle. We plan to have a version of the fuel cell car inproduction in 2004." Earlier this year, Ford Motor Company unveiled its 100-horsepower P2000 HFC (hydrogen fuel cell) vehicle, which usesthree Ballard fuel cell stacks and the same electric drive systemas the DaimlerChrysler NECAR 4. The P2000 made its first European appearance at the FFAopening. Nurdin was on hand to drive the vehicle, and expressedhis excitement about the project. "With this European presence,Ford is making a great commitment to the future ofenvironmentally superior vehicles, especially through highlyefficient fuel cell cars." Nurdin notes that in Europe, it is not uncommon to pay theequivalent of US$5.00 per gallon for petrol. "Ford understandsthat we are nearing the end of this Era of the InternalCombustion Engine, and that fuel cells will help take us into thenew century of efficiency, weaning us away from dirty fossilfuels. I applaud their efforts." The World Fuel Cell Council was founded in 1991 to promote themost rapid commercialization of this benign technology worldwide.Members of the Council include companies involved in thedevelopment of a variety of fuel cell technologies for bothstationary and mobile applications. ots Original Text Service:World Fuel Cell Council Internet: http://www.newsaktuell.deContact: Marcus Nurdin of the World Fuel Cell Council, Frankfurt,Germany, 49-69-283-851 Web site: http://www.fuelcells.org

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