News

First Opel Vivaro-E HYDROGEN Van Enters the Hydrogen Future with Miele as the First Customer

By December 10, 2021 4   min read  (782 words)

December 10, 2021 |

Fuel Cells Works, First Opel Vivaro-E HYDROGEN Van Enters the Hydrogen Future with Miele as the First Customer
  • First customer: Miele uses zero-emission vans
  • For the fleet: electric Vivaro-e HYDROGEN with hydrogen fuel cell
  • Save time: Refuel with hydrogen for over 400 kilometers (WLTP 1 ) in just three minutes
  • No compromises: up to 6.1 m 3  loading volume and 1,000 kilograms of payload
  • Pioneer: Stellantis is the first company to put hydrogen LCV on the road
  • Made in Germany: Series production at the Opel headquarters in Rüsselsheim

The first hydrogen transporter from a vehicle manufacturer is off to a good start: the first  Opel Vivaro-e HYDROGEN to be produced  will begin its emission-free work in the vehicle fleet of the household appliance manufacturer Miele.

The hydrogen fuel cell vehicle with the lightning bolt is used in the daily field service in the Rhine-Main area. Opel CEO Uwe Hochgeschurtz and Head of Development Marcus Lott were present at the start of production in Rüsselsheim.

“With the new Opel Vivaro-e HYDROGEN we are opening the next chapter in our offensive for sustainable mobility. His clever concept combines the advantages of a hydrogen fuel cell drive with the flexibility and range of uses of our bestselling commercial vehicle, ”said Opel boss Uwe Hochgeschurtz at the Opel headquarters in Rüsselsheim.

Head of Development Marcus Lott added: “The new Vivaro-e HYDROGEN perfectly meets the requirements of fleet customers. The hydrogen transporter is the ideal solution for driving long distances with zero emissions and transporting larger loads without losing any time charging batteries. The Opel Vivaro-e HYDROGEN is thus leading emission-free mobility into the future, especially for commercial use. ”

Clever concept: long range, zero emissions, short refueling stops 

The electrically powered Vivaro-e HYDROGEN is based on the battery-powered Opel Vivaro-e , the “International Van of the Year 2021”, which is already available  . The new one now has a hydrogen fuel cell drive with a plug-in battery and can travel more than 400 kilometers with a full tank (in accordance with WLTP 1). The 45 kW fuel cell provides enough power for longer journeys on the motorway. Refueling with hydrogen takes just three minutes – as short as a refueling stop with conventional diesel. When starting or accelerating, the 10.5 kWh lithium-ion battery housed under the front seats provides support to cover peak loads. The fuel cell system always works under optimal operating conditions, which increases the service life. In addition, the Vivaro-e HYDROGEN offers the great advantage of a hybrid system: braking energy can be recovered and fed into the battery as electricity via the electric motor (generator) (recuperation). Thanks to the plug-in option, the battery can also be charged externally if necessary, so that the vehicle can travel 50 kilometers purely on battery power.

Equipped for all tasks: two lengths and up to 6.1 cubic meters of loading volume.

The entire drive technology is housed in such a space-saving manner that the transporter does not compromise on space compared to conventional combustion engines. In addition, with a choice of up to 5.3 or 6.1 cubic meters, it offers just as much cargo space as the diesel or battery-electric Vivaro variants. The payload is up to 1,000 kilograms. The new Opel Vivaro-e HYDROGEN will be available in two lengths, M (Medium) and L (Large) (4,959 and 5,306 millimeters).

In addition, the Opel Vivaro-e HYDROGEN – just like its battery-electric and combustion counterparts – offers state-of-the-art driver assistance systems and comfort on a par with passenger cars. The standard equipment includes the 180-degree panoramic reversing camera, blind spot warning and park pilot for the front and rear. The Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible Multimedia Navi Pro infotainment can be conveniently operated using voice recognition or the color touchscreen. The navigation with road map for Europe provides dynamic route guidance as well as TMC messages. The heating or cooling of the vehicle can be activated via OpelConnect during the charging process; loading times can also be programmed using the myOpel app.

With the new Vivaro-e HYDROGEN, Opel and Stellantis build on more than 20 years of experience in the development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Production takes place at Opel Special Vehicles (OSV) in Rüsselsheim. With the emission-free van, Opel is consistently continuing its electric offensive. Because customers have the choice of choosing the right drive concept for their respective application in the Opel commercial vehicle portfolio. The Vivaro ‑ e HYDROGEN complements the range of battery-electric transporters  Combo-e Cargo ,  Vivaro-e  and  Movano-e , which are already available or can be ordered.

[1] The specified – preliminary – range was determined using the WLTP test procedure (Regulation (EC) No. 715/2007 and Regulation (EU) No. 2017/1151). The actual range can vary under everyday conditions and depends on various factors, in particular personal driving style, route characteristics, outside temperature, use of heating and air conditioning as well as thermal preconditioning.

Read the most up to date Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Industry news at FuelCellsWorks

FuelCellsWorks

Author FuelCellsWorks

More posts by FuelCellsWorks
error: Alert: Content is protected !!