Vauxhall has unveiled its latest zero-emissions offering, the Vivaro-e Hydrogen van. The plug-in fuel cell electric vehicle has a range of up to 249 miles, can be refuelled in three minutes and has a cargo volume up to 6.1m3, equal to the diesel or battery electric versions.
Vauxhall Vivaro-e Hydrogen: What Is It?
A fuel cell takes hydrogen and splits it down to electrons and protons, passing each through different parts of the cell to create an electric current. At the end of the process, the protons, electrons and oxygen are combined to create clean water, meaning there are no harmful emissions. The electricity generated is stored in a battery pack, ready to power the vehicle’s electric motor.
The plug-in fuel cell concept of the Vauxhall Vivaro-e Hydrogen enables the integration of the whole fuel cell system with the existing motor under the bonnet of the battery-electric Vivaro-e. The main bulk of the battery of the Vivaro-e is replaced by three hydrogen tanks.
Some intelligent engineering means that the battery-electric version becomes a fuel cell electric LCV without any modifications to the body, which is available in standard 4.95m and long 5.30m wheelbase options. There’s also no impact on the 5.3m3 to 6.1 m3 of cargo space, while the payload increases to 1,100kg.
Vauxhall Vivaro-e Hydrogen: Electric and Hydrogen Range
The Vivaro-e Hydrogen, with its 45kW fuel cell, is capable of generating enough power for continuous motorway driving. The 10.5kWh lithium-ion battery, located under the front seats, provides dynamic peak power when needed, such as at start-up or when under acceleration, leaving the fuel cell to run alone at optimum operating conditions. The battery also enables regenerative braking, while the plug-in capability offers the opportunity to recharge the battery externally if necessary, providing 31 miles of pure battery-electric range.
In addition, the main battery of the Vivaro-e electric van is replaced by three 700-bar, carbon fibre hydrogen tanks. These cylinders can be filled with liquid hydrogen in just three minutes, giving a range of 249 miles.
Vauxhall Vivaro-e Hydrogen: Availability
Vauxhall is actively speaking to business customers in the UK about the adoption of hydrogen fuel cell technology and expects right-hand drive vehicles to arrive in 2023. The Vivaro-e Hydrogen will be assembled at Opel’s Research and Development Centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany, with the sister brand planning to start delivering the first left-hand drive vehicles to European fleet customers in late 2021.
Paul Willcox, Managing Director, Vauxhall, said: “Vauxhall is already leading the way with an all-electric van range, and now we are set to add hydrogen to the line-up as an efficient energy system of the future. Vauxhall-Opel has more than 20 years of experience in developing hydrogen fuel technology which offers zero emissions-in-use, a long driving range and ultra-fast refuelling. We are already in contact with UK fleet operators that want to go the extra mile on sustainability and we look forward to bringing Vivaro-e Hydrogen to the UK soon.”
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