Kia to join the Clean Energy Partnership

As part of its global activities in the development and promotion of fuel cell vehicles, Kia Motors intends to join the Clean Energy Partnership in 2011.  The agreement between Kia Motors and members of the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP) will help to promote Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV) across Germany and to showcase the company’s competitiveness in eco-friendly vehicles.

The initial agreement was signed yesterday in Seoul, attended by Dr. Hyun Soon Lee, Vice Chairman and head of Hyundai-Kia R&D; Dr. Klaus Bonhoff, Managing Director of NOW GmbH (National Organization of Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology); Patrick Schnell, Chairman of the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP) and other CEP members.

“With Kia coming on board, the CEP will gain another strong partner from the automotive industry. We believe this can advance the commercialisation of fuel cell vehicles,” said Patrick Schnell, Chairman of the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP).

The German Federal Government, together with stakeholders from various industry sectors and academia, set up the National Innovation Programme to support the market preparation of fuel cell technology in Germany. The combined budget for the Programme amounts to Euro 1.4 billion and covers the period 2007-2016.

“By participating in the Clean Energy Partnership, Kia intends to generate further momentum in finding ways to better fuel cell technology and performance,” said Vice Chairman Dr. Lee.

In 2010 Kia Motors signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with four Northern European countries to operate a test fleet of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV) in the European market.