* Major problem for fuel-cell cars is lack of infrastructure
* Daimler-led group to invest in German filling stations
* Group wants about 400 hydrogen pumps by 2023, up from 15
FRANKFURT, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Daimler and fiveoil and industrial gas companies will invest about 350 millioneuros ($500 million) on a network of hydrogen filling stationsfor fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) in Germany over the next10 years, they said on Monday.
Fuel-cell cars are seen by many in the industry as the bestlong-term solution to lowering carbon emissions from roadtransport, but a major problem - apart from a high price tag -is the lack of a refuelling infrastructure.
"By 2023 there should be more hydrogen filling stations thanconventional ones on the autobahn (highway) today," Daimlerresearch and development chief Thomas Weber said in a statement.
The initiative includes petrochemical groups OMV,Shell and Total as well as industrial gasesproducers Air Liquide and Linde.
The group - dubbed "H2 Mobility" - is aiming to have about400 hydrogen filling stations in Germany by 2023, the first 100of which will be working with the next four years. Germany hasabout 15 such stations now.
Once the scheme is complete, every 90 km (56 miles) ofGerman motorway will offer a hydrogen station, the group said.
Fuel-cell cars chemically convert hydrogen to electricity topower the vehicle, emitting only water vapour as a waste productin the process.
Unlike battery-powered electric cars that have a range oftenlimited to about 100 km and need hours to recharge, FCEVs canrefuel within minutes and can travel on one tank distancessimilar to those of a conventional combustion engine car.
Linde and Daimler were already jointly aiming to invest tensof millions of euros to more than double the number of hydrogenfilling stations to 20 by 2015.
The FCEV market is in its infancy, with most cars offeredthrough leasing deals, often as part of corporate fleets, withmonthly instalments that industry experts say are oftensubsidised. FCEVs cost at least 100,000 euros.
Daimler is a leader in FCEVs and said this year that it,Ford and Nissan would within five years launchFCEVs costing not much more than a diesel-hybrid. Mercedes E 300BlueTEC diesel-hybrids sell in Germany from 52,450 euros.
Daimler has about 200 Mercedes B-Class F-Cells on the road.
