Innogy and StreetScooter jointly develop fuel cell vans
Innogy subsidiary Westnetz and StreetScooter have entered a development partnership. Westnetz will purchase a total of 300 electric vans by 2022 that StreetScooter will modify according to the utility’s requirements. This includes fuel cell systems, a first for StreetScooter.
Westnetz is among a growing number of clients turning to StreetScooter outside of DP/DHL since they opened for business from third parties. In the case of the Innogy subsidiary however, the cooperation goes beyond the acquisition of a fleet of electric vans. Still, StreetScooter CEO Achim Kampker describes the development partnership as “exemplary,” thus opening up to similar opportunities.
Westnetz has specific demands such as a motor output of 70 kW and a top speed of 120 kph. In addition, the use of fuel cells and hydrogen is also planned in order to increase the range and thus adapt the vehicles to use in rural regions.
The network provider will use the StreetScooter for their service personell and further expansion. The employees are on duty around the clock all year round. Under these conditions, the electric van becomes “a workshop, warehouse and office in one,” points out Jürgen Grönner, Managing Director of Westnetz. He adds: “StreetScooter can fully meet these requirements,” and the first electric vans have been deployed in Germany already.
The order followed a successful pilot during which the Innogy subsidiary tested ten StreetScooters for capacity, suitability for everyday use and handling.
The cooperation also works the other way around. Recently, Innogy was named as a partner for charging infrastructure construction at DHL logistics centres. Deutsche Post DHL will be moving forward with a trio of suppliers; EBG, Innogy and aixACCT.
StreetScooter has seen similar orders for their electric vans, even from abroad. In Britain, milk delivery service Milk & More has ordered 200 electric vehicles with cooling and claim the left-hand drive essentially keeps their employees safe from rushing traffic when loading and unloading (we reported).
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