Masterflex AG to supply Cargobikes with fuel cells for EU project HYCHAIN MINITRANS
Gelsenkirchen, January 31, 2006. Masterflex AG (ISIN DE0005492938) will deliver Cargobikes (light vehicles) with fuel cell drive as part of the EU project HYCHAIN MINITRANS. Today, Tuesday, Detlef Herzog, CEO of Masterflex AG, will sign the contract in the presence of representatives of the EU Commission in Brussels.
Masterflex AG has thus successfully launched a second fuel cell project within two months. In November 2005, the company had received an order from the North Rhine-Westphalian town of Herten to supply the world's first fuel cell-powered bicycle fleet.
The transnational HYCHAIN MINITRANS project is designed to identify innovative and sustainable alternatives to the heavily oil-dependent transportation industry. Early markets are to be identified and possible uses for selected transportation applications are to be created. HYCHAIN MINITRANS includes in particular the operation of 150 fuel cell powered small and light vehicles as well as the production, storage and logistic distribution of hydrogen. The Ruhr region in Germany was selected as one of the European test regions. Also involved are the greater Grenoble area (France), Modena (Italy) and Castilla y Leon (Spain). Masterflex AG plans to deploy at least forty of its "Cargobike" cargo cabs in the four regions.
In addition to Masterflex AG, a total of more than twenty companies and research institutes are participating, in particular Air Liquide from France, which is responsible for the project. At HYCHAIN MINITRANS, minibuses, scooters, small commercial vehicles and wheelchairs with fuel cell drive will be put into operation. The project is co-financed by the EU with 17 million euros.