NEW YORK, Nov 16 (Reuters) - DaimlerChrysler AG , the world's No. 5 carmaker, said on Sunday it plans "real-world experience" with more than 100 environmentally friendly, fuel cell vehicles by the end of 2004.
"We consider fuel cell technology to be the solution for the future," Dr. Andreas Truckenbrodt, head of fuel cell and advanced powertrain development for DaimlerChrysler, said in a statement.
"The next step is what we call, 'Fit for Daily Use.' We need to get field experience on the road in daily use to determine how our customers use the vehicles and what their needs are," Dr. Truckenbrodt said.
FCVs are being touted as the ultimate "green car," since they emit only water as a by-product, creating electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen. Mass production is believed to be at least a decade away due to high costs and the lack of infrastructure to supply and store hydrogen.
"The first commercially available fuel cell vehicles will be offered around the beginning of the next decade, but will not be produced in large numbers," Dr. Truckenbrodt said.
DaimlerChrysler said it will have "on-road real-world experience" with more than 100 fuel cell vehicles, including passenger cars, vans and transit buses, by the end of 2004. The vehicles will be placed with customers in Europe, Asia and the United States, the company said.