Daimler, Linde to Build 20 Hydrogen Fueling Stations

Daimler AG and Linde AG are investing a combined €10 million to add 20 public-access hydrogen fueling facilities in Germany by the end of 2015.

The two companies are partnering with oil and gas companies Avia, Hoyer, OMV and Total. Their refueling network is intended to support the auto industry's first retail sales of fuel-cell-powered cars over the next several years.

Germany currently has 16 hydrogen fueling stations in operation, but many are not accessible to the general public.

Daimler and Linde opened their first hydrogen station last month in Berlin-Charlottenburg. Others will be installed in Leipzig, Munich, Nuremberg, Stuttgart, Ulm and additional locations. Many will be built near major highways.

Toyota Motor Corp. said in June it would introduce its 7 million-yen (€51,000) fuel-cell sedan in Japan next April. The car will reach Europe and the U.S. a few months later. Daimler says it will debut multiple "competitively priced" fuel-cell vehicles in 2017.