Stellantis is expanding its hydrogen-fuel-cell light commercial vehicle offering in Europe with increased production output for its Pro One van range.
It says in-house production starts now on midsize vans in Hordain, France, and large vans in Gliwice, Poland, boosting availability of its zero-emissions products to the point that it claims to be the leader in emissions-free powertrains in European commercial vehicles.
Last October, the company unveiled a full revamp of the van lineup as a key element of the Pro One strategic offensive for Stellantis’ Commercial Vehicles Business. This range has a host of commercial vehicle manufacturing sites which also includes Mangualde, Portugal; Vigo, Spain; and Ellesmere Port, U.K., for compact vans; Luton, U.K., for midsize vans; and Atessa, Italy, for large vans.
Stellantis highlights the advantages of hydrogen powertrains for many commercial fleets such as short refueling times and no sacrifice of payload capability. It says its midsize vans boast a second generation of the fuel-cell system claiming a range of up to 250 miles (403 km) and refueling time of less than four minutes. For the large vans, the fuel-cell technology brings range capability of up to 310 miles (500 km_ and refueling time of five minutes.
The automaker now has eight fuel-cell hydrogen versions of midsize and large vans produced in-house, including Citroën ë-Jumpy and ë-Jumper, Fiat Professional E-Scudo and E-Ducato, Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro and Movano, and Peugeot E-Expert and E-Boxer.
Jean-Michel Billig, Stellantis chief technology officer in charge of hydrogen-fuel-cell vehicle development, says, “The action to bring hydrogen-fuel-cell midsize 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.”
