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Nuvera and Air Liquide Form Joint Venture to Develop Fuel Cells

February 15, 2001 by Jeff Shepard

Nuvera Fuel Cells Inc. (Cambridge, MA) and Air Liquide (France) announced their agreement to form a joint venture to be based in Sassenage, France, near Grenoble. The company, whose name has not yet been announced, will develop and market, on a global scale, complete power production systems based on fuel cell and fuel processor technology. These systems will be used for portable, stationary and transportation applications.

The agreement stipulates that the joint venture will develop, make and market equipment systems using hydrogen as their main fuel source. The aim is to produce power with no harmful effects on the environment. The joint venture will also pursue its research in the area of fuel cells to develop, test and enhance its technology.

The new company will be supported by a team of engineers from Nuvera's European office, who will be responsible for the fuel cell stack. Air Liquide will help Nuvera develop the stack and will be responsible for developing hydrogen production and storage technology and ancillary fuel cell equipment, and for the testing and qualifying of the integrated systems.

“This joint venture with Nuvera, which is known for its expertise in fuel cell technology, shows our group's commitment to finding clean, environmentally-friendly energy solutions," commented Air Liquide Chairman and CEO Alain Joly. “The use of this technology, particularly in public transportation vehicles, will reduce pollution in our cities. Air Liquide will contribute its expertise in producing and supply the hydrogen these fuel cell systems will need."