World’s first vehicle with a fuel cell:
SFC A50 supplies full on board energy demand

Brunnthal, Germany, September 6, 2005 – SFC Smart Fuel Cell introduces the world’s first commercial fuel cell in an automotive application. The company’s SFC A50 fuel cell is now an integrated standard feature in the prestigious Hymer “S Class” motor home. In this application the fuel cell supplies the vehicle’s onboard electricity when not on the move. Typically motor homes are driven to a holiday location and then stand for days or weeks, often without a mains connection. The motor home thus requires a continuous supply of quiet and clean electricity. The SFC A50 fuel cell fully provides the electricity needed for the use of the motor home’s convenience features like parking heaters, satellite and TV systems, lighting, digital gadgets etc. This announcement marks the latest in a series of successful SFC product placements and opens the doors into new high volume applications in vehicles with constant on board energy demand for entertainment, communication, security, and surveillance electronics or luxury equipment.

“Hymer’s adoption of our fuel cells as standard equipment in the S-Class signals the beginning of a new era. Fuel cells are emerging as a mature energy alternative in the vehicle industry, and SFC is the pioneer that drives this development”, says Pieter Bots, Chief Marketing and Sales Officer of SFC. “We are extremely proud to be the first fuel cell manufacturer worldwide to finally offer a fully commercialized fuel cell to the automotive industry.”

All SFC fuel cells are fuelled by methanol, which is supplied in convenient, 5 litre safety cartridges. One cartridge will provide electrical power for 4 to 14 days, depending on individual use. 5 litre methanol at a weight of 4.3 kg (9.5 lbs) will thus have the same capacity as 5 car batteries weighing approx. 150 kg (330 lbs). As the fuel cell continually recharges the auxiliary battery, the engine does not have to be switched on to avoid battery depletion. The fuel cell also protects the battery against deep discharge.

SFC is currently in negotiations with numerous potential international cooperation partners in a wide range of automotive applications.
Hymer presents the “S-Class” with fuel cell at the 61st Motor Show IAA in Frankfurt at their exhibition booth F10.66.

About SFC:
SFC (www.smartfuelcell.de) is one of Germany’s most successful technology companies with a globally acknowledged market leader position in the fuel cell industry. The Company has been granted numerous innovation awards. SFC is the first company to successfully market fully commercialized fuel cell products as mobile or off-grid power supplies. SFC cooperates with leading companies in a number of different industries.

Publisher Contact Information:

SFC Smart Fuel Cell AG
+49 89 607 454-79
schramm@smartfuelcell.de

Company profile of SFC Smart Fuel Cell AG
Past press releases of SFC Smart Fuel Cell AG.