By Abbas Nazil
Federal Minister of Transport Patrick Schnieder and Baden-Württemberg Minister for the Environment, Climate and Energy Sector Thekla Walker visited EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies GmbH in Dettingen/Erms to assess progress in hydrogen-based mobility and review developments surrounding the IPCEI-funded NM20 fuel cell stack and related technologies.
During the visit, discussions centred on the role hydrogen can play in the future of mobility, particularly in heavy-duty transport, industrial applications and other high-power use cases where fuel cell systems provide competitive advantages over conventional propulsion systems.
The ministers toured EKPO’s development and production facilities where highly automated systems manufacture fuel cell stacks and components for mobile and stationary applications.
The focus was placed on the NM20 stack module, which delivers up to 400 kilowatts of power and is supported with funding of up to EUR 177 million under the Hy2Tech IPCEI hydrogen programme until the end of 2027.
Officials emphasised that hydrogen represents a strategic building block for achieving climate-neutral transport, especially for heavy goods vehicles, buses, rail systems, maritime transport and even aviation-related applications.
Federal Minister Schnieder highlighted that fuel cell drive systems complement existing technologies and demonstrate how innovation developed in Germany contributes to transforming the mobility sector while strengthening industrial competitiveness.
Minister Walker underscored that hydrogen technologies are critical for meeting climate targets and advancing the energy transition, noting that flagship projects such as the NextGen HD Stack support regional economic growth and technological leadership.
EKPO executives explained that the company operates on a 6,500-square-metre site equipped with advanced production lines for industrial-scale manufacturing of fuel cell stacks and bipolar plates that support both mobility and stationary energy systems.
The company’s modular portfolio includes stack platforms ranging from 16 kilowatts to 400 kilowatts, serving applications such as forklifts, commercial vehicles, buses, trains and stationary power units.
Company representatives stated that enhanced efficiency, reduced hydrogen consumption, elevated temperature operation, recyclability and long service life make the NM20 stack suitable for large-scale deployment in demanding environments.
They added that accelerating the development of hydrogen infrastructure and creating competitive market conditions for hydrogen production are essential to ensuring broader adoption across industries.
Officials noted that public funding under IPCEI has strengthened research, innovation and commercialization efforts while enabling collaboration between federal and state governments and private industry.
Industry experts observing the visit said that partnerships between policymakers and technology providers reinforce Europe’s ambition to build an integrated hydrogen value chain and establish global leadership in fuel cell deployment.
