Plant Leipzig’s fourth hydrogen filling station (left to right): Michael Kretschmer, Minister President of Saxony, Hans-Peter Kemser, Director of BMW Group Plant Leipzig, and Dr. Reiner Haseloff, Minister President of Sachsen-Anhalt.
BMW Group said today that it has clear goals for effective climate protection and sustainable mobility up to the year 2030 – and its products and production are affected.
“Our solution to the challenges of environmental policy is technological innovation. Technology is where the key to the future lies – and it’s our constructive response for climate protection,” said Hans-Peter Kemser, Director of BMW Group Plant Leipzig. Leipzig aims not only to be carbon-neutral but also to operate carbon-free production. “Our vision is to fully de-carbonize production by replacing fossil fuels with future fuels in the shape of green hydrogen,” he added.
The Central German Hydrogen Summit took place at BMW Group Plant Leipzig today. In attendance were Michael Kretschmer, Minister President of the Free State of Saxony, Dr. Reiner Haseloff, Minister President of the state of Sachsen-Anhalt, Henry Graichen, County Commissioner of the Leipzig District, Kai Emanuel, County Commissioner of Nordsachsen, Burkhard Jung, Lord Mayor of Leipzig, and Egbert Geier, Mayor of Halle, along with guests from business, politics, administration and academia taking part in discussions at the plant.
The event was streamed live, with speakers exploring application and investment plans as well as the establishment by 2030 of a full-coverage hydrogen infrastructure for the Halle and Leipzig region.
Three principal challenges of using green hydrogen were discussed:
- How to ensure sufficient supplies for the plant?
- What technologies exist or need developing to enable the use of hydrogen?
- How to remain profitable despite the current high cost of green hydrogen?
Hydrogen is being used in logistics to power tractors and forklifts carrying required parts to the assembly lines in Leipzig. The first such vehicles went into service back in 2013. Plant Leipzig now operates 81in total, with 37 more to be added shortly. Then, it’s claimed, Plant Leipzig will have the largest hydrogen-powered logistics fleet in Germany. Like conventionally powered vehicles, the hydrogen fleet has the great advantage of being very quick to refuel – and the filling stations take up little space.
The Hydrogen Summit also provided the backdrop for Leipzig to inaugurate its fourth on-site hydrogen filling station. The first went on stream in 2013 in the BMW i bodyshop and was the only indoor H2 refueling station in Germany at the time. Two more followed in 2018, and a fourth is now also set to supply the steadily rising number of hydrogen vehicles. About 50 kg of hydrogen are put into their tanks every day – all of it certified green since day one.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
BMW Group – Hydrogen is Key Technology for Future
Plant Leipzig’s fourth hydrogen filling station (left to right): Michael Kretschmer, Minister President of Saxony, Hans-Peter Kemser, Director of BMW Group Plant Leipzig, and Dr. Reiner Haseloff, Minister President of Sachsen-Anhalt.
BMW Group said today that it has clear goals for effective climate protection and sustainable mobility up to the year 2030 – and its products and production are affected.
“Our solution to the challenges of environmental policy is technological innovation. Technology is where the key to the future lies – and it’s our constructive response for climate protection,” said Hans-Peter Kemser, Director of BMW Group Plant Leipzig. Leipzig aims not only to be carbon-neutral but also to operate carbon-free production. “Our vision is to fully de-carbonize production by replacing fossil fuels with future fuels in the shape of green hydrogen,” he added.
The Central German Hydrogen Summit took place at BMW Group Plant Leipzig today. In attendance were Michael Kretschmer, Minister President of the Free State of Saxony, Dr. Reiner Haseloff, Minister President of the state of Sachsen-Anhalt, Henry Graichen, County Commissioner of the Leipzig District, Kai Emanuel, County Commissioner of Nordsachsen, Burkhard Jung, Lord Mayor of Leipzig, and Egbert Geier, Mayor of Halle, along with guests from business, politics, administration and academia taking part in discussions at the plant.
The event was streamed live, with speakers exploring application and investment plans as well as the establishment by 2030 of a full-coverage hydrogen infrastructure for the Halle and Leipzig region.
Three principal challenges of using green hydrogen were discussed:
Hydrogen is being used in logistics to power tractors and forklifts carrying required parts to the assembly lines in Leipzig. The first such vehicles went into service back in 2013. Plant Leipzig now operates 81in total, with 37 more to be added shortly. Then, it’s claimed, Plant Leipzig will have the largest hydrogen-powered logistics fleet in Germany. Like conventionally powered vehicles, the hydrogen fleet has the great advantage of being very quick to refuel – and the filling stations take up little space.
The Hydrogen Summit also provided the backdrop for Leipzig to inaugurate its fourth on-site hydrogen filling station. The first went on stream in 2013 in the BMW i bodyshop and was the only indoor H2 refueling station in Germany at the time. Two more followed in 2018, and a fourth is now also set to supply the steadily rising number of hydrogen vehicles. About 50 kg of hydrogen are put into their tanks every day – all of it certified green since day one.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.