Stellantis reveals its first steps in Hydrogen Fuel Cell technology

Stellantis has exposed the up coming action in its intention to turn into a zero-emissions car corporation with a new hydrogen fuel cell driven medium-sized van. 

The new design – not nonetheless exposed – is dependent on the system-sharing Citroen e-Dispatch/Peugeot e-Qualified/Vauxhall Vivaro-e electrical vans, but the engineering is replaced by a new hydrogen fuel cell program.

The established-up is explained by Stellantis as a mid-ability program. It includes a 60bhp fuel cell stack below the bonnet, which is connected to a few hydrogen tanks that can have 4.4kg of hydrogen and are mounted below the cargo ground, in position of the electrical van’s 50kWh battery. 

In addition, you will find a ten.5kWh battery mounted below the seats which can be plugged in to be recharged. This delivers ability for the 121bhp electrical motor which drives the entrance wheels and offers up to 31 miles of array on its individual. Stellantis claims that the combined fuel cell program will be very easily capable of far more than 250 miles (issue to official WLTP assessments) of zero-emissions driving, whilst a few-minute refill situations for the hydrogen program are significantly shorter than individuals for the electrical vans.

The established-up is created to blend ability resources, so the battery delivers ability from a standstill, at reduced speeds and below acceleration, whilst the fuel cell normally takes over at cruising speeds when a lot less electricity is wanted. As with comprehensive EVs, the program recoups electricity again into the battery when coasting or decelerating.

Considering the fact that the fuel cell program is integrated into the existing medium-sized van system, cargo volume has not been compromised, whilst Stellantis claims a payload of up to one.one tonnes, relying on van dimensions. The van will be offered in medium and extensive panel van guises.

Progress of the fuel cell program was led by Opel’s R&D office with enter from Peugeot/Citroen and French hydrogen authorities Faurecia and Symbio. This joint work has sped up advancement and suggests the first vans will strike the roads in advance of the conclusion of 2021.

Hydrogen charging stations are however scarce across Europe, but these new products have been given immediate funding from the German authorities for their advancement, and are backed by a multi-billion Euros investment in EU hydrogen charging infrastructure currently being rolled out by French and German governments in advance of the EU’s concentrate on for carbon neutrality in 2050. 

Presently there are 25 hydrogen refuelling factors in France, and ninety in Germany, with far more currently being included just about every thirty day period.

Stellantis’s hydrogen fuel cell tech is for vans only at the moment, but it could very easily make the leap to passenger vehicles in the type of the Citroen SpaceTourer and Peugeot Traveller MPVs. There are presently no options to develop a hydrogen Vauxhall Vivaro van, due to the fact the fuel cell program has only been developed for left-hand push products. On the other hand, Stellantis sees this project as its first action in hydrogen fuel cell advancement, and it will push investigate into its 2nd-generation methods for its broad array of cars and vans.

Selling prices are to be confirmed, but Stellantis is making an attempt to preserve charges as reduced as feasible by using its existing van tech and bringing in hydrogen authorities to speed up its advancement. The agency is focusing on full value of ownership (TCO) and making an attempt to attract as many firms on board from the begin to support minimize charges.

Click on here to examine our review of the all-electrical Vauxhall Vivaro-e van…