Stellantis ProOne’s new hydrogen large van will come in right-hand-drive as early as next year.
Unlike the mid-sized version of their hydrogen fuelled van – currently available in France and Germany as the Vauxhall Vivaro-e Hydrogen – the large van will be based off the Citroen E-Relay, Fiat E-Ducato, Peugeot E-Boxer and Vauxhall Movano Electric battery electric vans. It uses a combination of a 110kW motor paired to a 45kW fuel cell with an 10.5kWh battery pack.
Hydrogen storage is from four vessels providing a total of 7kg of usable H2 and an expected range of more than 500km.
In comparison, the mid-sized van uses three vessels to give the van a 400km range.
The van will be available in L3H2 and L4H3 sizes giving a total loadspace of 13m3 and 17m3 as well as a 1,300kg payload.
The large van can be fuelled at 700 Bar enabling a fill-up time of less than five minutes.
Stellantis’ decision to increase their efforts into hydrogen products are reflected in the EU Council’s decision to create the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulations (AFIR). All EU countries will be required to deliver a viable hydrogen refuelling network with one 700 Bar hydrogen station located every 200km on all main corridor routes. They will also have to have 1 station for each assigned urban node in order to aid refuelling in cities. EU countries will need to have completed the network by 2030 which should create more than 500 filling stations across the EU member states.
Currently there are around 150 public H2 filling stations with the majority in Germany, France, Netherlands and Switzerland.
While the mid-sized H2 van is scheduled to be rolled out to more European countries this year, including Netherlands and Belgium, a right-hand-drive version for the UK will not come until the next generation of medium sized vans is introduced in several years time. Instead, the large van will be rolled out across Europe and to North America after 2025 when a hydrogen fuelled pick-up truck – under the RAM brand – will also be brought to market.
