Stellantis launches industrial series production of H2 vans
Stellantis was already on the market with medium-sized H2 transporters. Now the Group is adding large hydrogen vans to its portfolio. For the medium-sized vans, a second generation of the fuel cell system will also ensure a future range of up to 400 kilometres and a refuelling time of less than four minutes. According to Stellantis, the large vans will have a range of up to 500 kilometres and a refuelling time of five minutes.
For now, the Group is launching eight fuel cell versions of medium-sized and large vans: the Citroën ë-Jumpy and ë-Jumper, the Fiat Professional E-Scudo and E-Ducato, the Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro and Movano as well as the Peugeot E-Expert and E-Boxer. The manufacturer is not commenting on how high the output in the plants in France and Poland will be. There are also no details yet on the actual drive system, which is likely to be largely identical in each of the four medium-sized and large sister models. However, it is clear that the hydrogen versions will be based on the revised model versions that Stellantis announced in October.
“The action to bring hydrogen fuel cell mid-size vans and add fuel cell large vans to our production lines is a proof point of our commitment to maintain the lead in cutting-edge hydrogen technology and make it available to our most demanding customers,” says Jean-Michel Billig, Stellanti’s Chief Technology Officer, Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Development. “The skills and dedication of our engineering and operational teams are essential as we pursue the ambitions of Dare Forward 2030 and maintain the lead in the zero-emission commercial vehicle segment.”
Stellantis’ commercial vehicle manufacturing operations are spread across sites in Mangualde (Portugal), Vigo (Spain) and Ellesmere Port (UK) for small vans, Hordain (France) and Luton (UK) for medium vans and Atessa (Italy) and Gliwice (Poland) for large vans. New editions of the vans are now rolling off the production line there. Three months ago, Stellantis presented twelve new models at its “Commercial Vehicles Ambition Day” – essentially three vehicles, spread across four brands. The second generation of electric drives “should not require any compromises in important factors such as payload or cargo space volume compared to combustion engines”, was the credo at the time.
It was also mentioned in October that the four medium-sized vans Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro, Citroën Jumpy, Fiat Scudo and Peugeot Expert are to be given a fuel cell version with three hydrogen tanks and a range of up to 400 kilometers in addition to a completely refreshed design. Regardless of this, the interior of the quartet features a new cockpit with a ten-inch driver’s display and more storage space than before. And: in this class, there are a total of six body types, in future only two instead of three lengths (the 4.60-meter-long S model has been dropped).
With a view to the large Fiat Ducato, Opel Movano, Citroën Jumper and Peugeot Boxer vans, Stellantis announced three months ago that an adapted version of the hydrogen drive would be available in these models from mid-2024 – with the aforementioned range of up to 500 kilometres. That is 80 kilometres more than the BEV versions of the vans should be able to achieve thanks to the second generation of electric drives. Given this rather moderate difference, the hydrogen vehicles are likely to impress above all with their five-minute refueling time.
As before, the large vans will be offered in four lengths and three heights. The portfolio comprises seven body versions, including a special delivery version for delivery services in the future. Among other things, this will be characterized by a roller shutter instead of a rear door.
Stellantis emphasizes that fuel cell technology plays an important role in its own roadmap for emission-free drives. Hence the Group’s entry into the vertical supply chain: since 2023, Stellantis has been an equal shareholder in Symbio, a hydrogen technology company with branches in Europe and the United States.
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