Stellantis wants to become the third shareholder in the Symbio fuel cell joint venture, alongside Faurecia and Michelin. Negotiations to acquire a “substantial stake” are underway. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2023.
The French vehicle developer Gaussin is planning to use hydrogen fuel cells from Symbio. While Gaussin and the joint venture of Michelin and Faurecia have signed a corresponding letter of intent, the deal is not yet binding.
Schaeffler and Symbio, the joint venture of Faurecia and Michelin, have founded a globally active joint venture for the production of bipolar plates for fuel cells with proton exchange membrane (PEM). Production will be exclusively for the needs of the two shareholders.
Symbio, Faurecia and Michelin have been granted the California Energy Commission Award for hydrogen fuel cell truck development. This gives the partners the chance to develop and demonstrate a hydrogen-fuelled, regional-haul Class 8 truck.
Symbio, the fuel cell joint venture between Faurecia and Michelin established in late 2019, is expanding into the US. The company has announced the formation of Symbio North America and the appointment of Rob Del Core as general manager.
French bus manufacturer Safra and the fuel cell joint venture of Michelin and Faurecia, Symbio, announce plans to produce 1,500 hydrogen buses. Businova, the first French fuel cell bus developed by Safra and equipped by Symbio, is already on the road in several cities.
The Stellantis Group has announced that three electric transporters from Opel, Peugeot and Citroën will also be offered with a fuel cell system this year, which should enable WLTP ranges of over 400 kilometres. Specifically, these are the Opel Vivaro, Peugeot Expert and Citroën Jumpy.
A group of 25 companies and organisations from the hydrogen sector have formed a consortium called ‘StasHH’ to develop and test a European standard for fuel cell modules for heavy-duty applications for the first time.
The city of Auxerre has commissioned the French manufacturer Safra to deliver five fuel cell buses by the end of this year. To be precise, these are hybrid buses that combine a 30-kW Symbio fuel cell system with a 30-kilo hydrogen tank and a 132-kWh battery pack.
The merger of the fuel cell businesses of Michelin and Faurecia announced in March, has now been completed. The two French companies hold equal shares in the formally established joint venture “Symbio, A Faurecia Michelin Hydrogen Company”.
Renault is equipping its Kangoo Z.E. and Master Z.E. electric vehicles with a fuel cell system – but as a range extender and not as the main source of energy. This should increase the range of the two models to up to 370 kilometres.
Michelin and Faurecia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to form a joint venture to combine all of Michelin’s fuel cell activities, including its subsidiary Symbio, with those of Faurecia.
The energy provider Engie has fitted a fleet of 50 Kangoo Z.E. with fuel cell range extenders from Symbio, in Rungis, near Paris, for their employees. A hydrogen fuel station was also installed at the location.
New Google partner? Honda is in talks to partner with Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving spin-off, apparently. While Fiat already sent a hundred modified Chrysler Pacifica PHEV, it is unclear which vehicles Honda may offer. electrek.co, forbes.com
Growing demand for Li-ion batteries led Mitsui Chemicals and partner Formosa Plastics to raise capacity at their plant in Chinese Ningbo from 1,500 to 5,000 tons/year. The plant shall work at full capacity by the end of 2017. icis.com
Expansion: Finnish manufacturer of e-drives, Visedo has collected 20m euros (US$21m) for its international growth plans. Visedo supplies electric powertrains and components for heavy-duty machinery, CV and the marine industry. greencarcongress.com, transportweekly.com
Hydrogen-powered skateboard: To mark its first appearance at the CES in Las Vegas, Symbio will present a fuel cell skateboard prototype. It shall however point to the firms much larger applications for buses, trucks or boats. businesswire.com