Vauxhall is testing a hydrogen fuel-cell version of its Vivaro van in the UK.
This comes before the launch of the larger Movano Hydrogen later this year. The Vivaro Hydrogen is based on the Vivaro Electric and is already sold in Europe for around 71,000 Euros (approximately £59,200). It is equipped with a 45kW fuel cell and a 10.9kWh battery pack located under the front seats. This setup provides a WLTP range of 249 miles, nearly 50 miles more than the Vivaro Electric’s 75kWh battery configuration.
The Vivaro Hydrogen can travel up to 31 miles on electricity alone without using the fuel cell. Due to efficient packaging, it maintains the same load area of 6.1 cubic meters and a maximum payload of 1,000kg. Unlike the electric version, using the maximum payload does not significantly affect the van’s range. Refueling the 5kg hydrogen fuel tanks takes about five minutes, similar to refueling a diesel van.
Infrastructure remains a major hurdle. While the EU supports FCEV technology with laws requiring refueling stations every 200km on major roads, the UK has been slower to adopt this infrastructure. Currently, there are only 16 hydrogen refueling stations in the UK.
For the 311-mile-range Movano Hydrogen, going on sale later in 2024, Vauxhall is partnering with British firm Ryze Hydrogen. They aim to make FCEVs more appealing by providing refueling solutions on-site and at convenient locations for fleet customers.
