Add Option, Stellantis Develop Hydrogen Fuel Vehicles

Opel Vivaro e-Hydrogen. (Doc. Stellantis)

JAKARTA - In an effort to reduce the carbon footprint on earth, several well-known automotive manufacturers are competing to develop vehicles with alternative energy. In addition to electric vehicles (EVs), one of the technologies currently attracting attention is the Fuel-Cell Vehicle (FCV) or hydrogen fuel cells.

Stellantis, a multinational automotive company that houses various brands, is developing this alternative energy as one of four different solutions for zero-emissions mobility.

"The injection of hydrogen is one of the four technologies we are working on," said Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, reported by Autocar, Tuesday, December 5.

The Portuguese man said the real competition in the environmentally friendly vehicle segment started with fuel cells, EVs, hydrogen, and synthetic fuels, as well as determining which is the best solution for the future.

"We will see in the next few years what is the best solution for society," added Tavares.

Unfortunately, Stellantis did not reveal what model would carry the hydrogen combustion engine. However, they have started selling the ranks of medium-sized vans, namely K0 or Opel Vivaro with the option of hydrogen fuel cells.

The company will also offer the innovation to the pickup truck Ram Heavy Duty at the end of 2026 or early 2027 in the US. Stellantis said that hydrogen tanks are easier to pack in vans, while the weight of the van fuel cells or the lighter hydrogen burning vans compared to the battery-electric vans will allow for larger payloads.

Hydrogen fuel is considered the right alternative solution to eliminate emissions, especially for commercial vehicle manufacturers, given the absence of disruption to the supply chain it causes compared to the BEV or FCEV.

Gasoline engines need to be modified to receive hydrogen, but the mechanism remains the same. The challenge is building a fuel network and producing environmentally friendly hydrogen on a large scale.