Stellantis has discontinued its hydrogen gas cell know-how growth program, citing restricted refueling infrastructure, excessive capital necessities, and inadequate client buying incentives. The automotive producer introduced it doesn’t anticipate hydrogen-powered gentle business autos to achieve traction earlier than the tip of the last decade.
The choice means Stellantis will cancel the launch of its new hydrogen-powered Professional One car vary, which was scheduled to start manufacturing this summer time. Manufacturing was deliberate to begin at amenities in Hordain, France for medium-sized vans and Gliwice, Poland for big vans.
“In a context the place the Firm is mobilizing to answer demanding CO2 rules in Europe, Stellantis has determined to discontinue its hydrogen gas cell know-how growth program,” mentioned Jean-Philippe Imparato, Chief Working Officer for Enlarged Europe. “The hydrogen market stays a distinct segment phase, with no prospects of mid-term financial sustainability. We should clarify and accountable decisions to make sure our competitiveness and meet the expectations of our prospects with our electrical and hybrid passenger and lightweight business autos offensive.”
The corporate confirmed that staffing at manufacturing websites will stay unaffected, with analysis and growth actions associated to hydrogen know-how being redirected to different tasks. Stellantis has additionally initiated discussions with shareholders of Symbio to guage market penalties and protect the corporate’s pursuits.
Stellantis presently gives a hydrogen gas cell model of the big Vauxhall Movano within the UK, with the mid-size Vivaro van initially scheduled to launch later this yr. Each autos can be found in left-hand drive markets underneath the corporate’s Professional One van umbrella, which incorporates Peugeot, Citroen, Fiat and Vauxhall manufacturers.
“It isn’t the correct time to push hydrogen. There is no such thing as a funding in incentives and infrastructure, so we’re not pushing it commercially,” mentioned Fedele Ragusa, Stellantis senior product supervisor, talking to Fleet Information.
The transfer represents a part of a broader overview of the corporate’s world decarbonization technique, which has shifted away from the earlier goal of changing into 100% zero emission by 2030, a aim launched by former CEO Carlos Tavares.
As a substitute, Stellantis is specializing in a multi-energy technique combining full electrical and inner combustion engines, plus “one thing within the center,” in response to Ragusa. This intermediate choice is prone to be plug-in hybrid or vary extender know-how.
“We’re not prepared but, but it surely’s a change in comparison with the previous,” Ragusa mentioned. “We expect that hybridisation is an efficient choice.”
The corporate is prioritizing battery electrical car enhancements, specializing in cell effectivity, lightness and vitality density. Stellantis has upgraded the AC charging capabilities on its vans to 22kW as customary, matching the kind of chargers fleets are putting in at depots. An entire cost can now be achieved in six hours, half the time of the earlier 11kW resolution.
