DaimlerChrysler announced that the company has hit the one million mile mark on fuel cell vehicles. The combined mileage of more than 100 fuel cell vehicles operating worldwide include Mercedes-Benz F-Cell passenger cars, Dodge Sprinter medium-duty fuel cell powered vans and Citaro fuel cell powered transportation buses. More than 30 DaimlerChrysler hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will be placed in the United States by the end of 2005. The automaker has committed to a $1 billion investment in fuel cell vehicle research. "Hydrogen has the potential to become an important energy source in the future", said Mark Chernoby, vice president of Advance Vehicle Engineering Chrysler Group. Through programs such as the Department of Energy (DOE) Controlled Hydrogen Fleet and Infrastructure Demonstration and Validation Project, DaimlerChrysler will place more fuel cell vehicles in the hands of customers, who will provide feedback about performance under different conditions. The company is testing fuel cell vehicles under varying weather, traffic conditions and driving styles in different locations worldwide. BP is the energy partner of DaimlerChrysler in the project. BP recently opened a hydrogen refueling station in Southfield, Michigan, with DTE Energy Company. Another station was opened in a cooperative effort between BP and Next Energy in Detroit Michigan. Fuel cells release energy from the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen with a catalyst. This clean technology operates to a high level of efficiency and is true zero emission. Hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles emit only pure water vapor as exhaust.