Lyon–Meeting on the occasion of the conference Electric Vehicles Symposium 32 (EVS32), one of the largest global meetings devoted to electric mobility, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, Michelin, ENGIE, the Bank of the Territories and Crédit Agricole have formalized their commitment in Hympulsion, the project company whose mission is to deploy the most important renewable hydrogen mobility project in France: Zero Emission Valley
The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region and the Banque des Territoires are invested at 49% in Hympulsion, a unique public-private partnership, while the Michelin Group, ENGIE and Crédit Agricole hold 51% of the capital.
Now operational, the company Hympulsion will be able to accelerate the deployment of Zero Emission Valley, the first renewable hydrogen mobility project in France for fleets captives of professionals (1,000 vehicles and 20 stations). Co-financed by European funds, this project aims to offer vehicles and renewable hydrogen at a global cost comparable to diesel.
The first stone of the station of Chambery will be laid in June for an inauguration in the 4th quarter 2019, and a temporary station in Clermont-Ferrand will be inaugurated at the end of August.Stations will be deployed in 10 territories including the Métropoles de Lyon, Grenoble and Saint-Etienne. Concurrently, financial aid will be granted by the Region and the Union European acquisition of 1,000 vehicles.
The answer to a triple challenge: environmental, industrial and economic:
•Environmental, because renewable hydrogen mobility will help to contribute to improvement of air quality in the 9 priority territories of the region.
•Industrial, because the region concentrates nearly 80% of the actors of the hydrogen sector on its territory; the development of hydrogen mobility will help boost and to perpetuate this sector of excellence. The challenge is to produce hydrogen systems large scale meeting zero carbon requirements and to offer vehicles hydrogen at a cost comparable to that of diesel.
•Economic, because this project will not only allow the creation of jobs in the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region but also to the training centers of the region to support young people in the future professions of clean mobility and the zero carbon industry.
Hydrogen mobility at the metropolitan, regional, national and European levels:
By its magnitude, this project alone will by 2023 cover 25% of the objectives of vehicles announced in the national hydrogen plan.
For Laurent WAUQUIEZ , President of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, “The dynamism of the sector in our region and the strong synergy in society Hympulsion between public and private sector are going to make Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes the first hydrogen territory in France and to be the catalyst for the deployment of this new technology in Europe. With Zero Emission Valley, we can respond to climate issues and demonstrate that economic development and Job creation is not incompatible with preserving the environment.
ENGIE , convinced that renewable hydrogen is the missing link to a system decarbonated energy, is positioned at the forefront of the energy revolution to accelerate the advent of a decentralized, decarbonised and digitalised system where renewable energies will a predominant place. The ZEV project in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes illustrates the concrete commitment of ENGIE serving cities, territories and societies around the world in their transition zero-carbon energy . As an ambitious pioneer, we work hand in hand >with all public and private partners to make 100% renewable hydrogen a reality accessible to all. ” Comments Franck BRUEL , Deputy General Manager of ENGIE.
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