On 15th August 2022, Wolfgang Tiefensee, Thuringia's Minister of Economics, Science and Digital Society, paid a short visit to IHI Charging Systems International GmbH located in Ichtershausen at the Erfurter Kreuz. Mr Tiefensee was presented with the strategy of the IHI Group, which is focusing more and more on products and technologies for CO2 neutral energy chains and drive systems and is investing globally in hydrogen and ammonia synthesis and utilization on a large scale.
One specific topic was the presentation of the turbine-assisted air compressor (turbo compressor) for hydrogen-powered vehicles. This technology is developed and manufactured mainly at the Ichtershausen site and increases the economic efficiency of fuel cell systems. The first development customers for marine applications and vehicle drive systems have already been acquired.
Currently, IHI manufactures mainly exhaust gas turbochargers in Ichtershausen. However, usage of the product is limited due to climate change. The turbo compressor on the other hand is an essential component of the fuel cell drive system. It significantly improves the efficiency of a fuel cell drive. Therefore, the economic attractiveness of fuel cell technology is to be increased in the future and hydrogen-based electromobility sustainably promoted.
Minister Tiefensee was able to see for himself the status of developments and the investments already made, such as the test stand that has been in operation for several months. He was impressed with the speed with which IHI and the site at the Erfurter Kreuz are facing the transformation to renewable energy solutions.
"I am pleased to see how quickly ICSI is managing the transformation from classic components for combustion engines to future products. It is apparent that the IHI Group is also very committed globally with regard to the hydrogen value chain." (Wolfgang Tiefensee, Minister of Economics, Science and Digital Society of the Free State of Thuringia)
"Winning this development for our site means an important step in the direction of new future-proof products that will secure production for our plant in the long term after the phase-out of the classic turbocharger for internal combustion engines. We are very proud of this success, for which we have worked hard for years." (Dr. Daniel Bader, one of the Managing Directors and Plant Manager of IHI Charging Systems International Germany Ichtershausen, one of the turbocharger producing plants of the IHI Group).
IHI Charging Systems International GmbH (ICSI) is a subsidiary of the IHI Corporation (Tokyo). Its employees develop, produce and sell turbochargers for the European automotive industry. The company's headquarters are located in Ichtershausen (Thuringia).
