Stellantis scraps hydrogen development

STELLANTIS HAS discontinued its hydrogen fuel cell technology development program.

The firm put the decision down to limited availability of hydrogen refueling infrastructure, high capital requirements, and the need for stronger consumer purchasing incentives.

Stellantis has ended series production of hydrogen-powered Pro One vans in Hordain, France, and Gliwice, Poland.

Jean-Philippe Imparato, chief operating officer for Enlarged Europe at Stellantis said: “The hydrogen market remains a niche segment, with no prospects of mid-term economic sustainability.”

In early 2024, Stellantis unveiled plans for eight fuel cell hydrogen versions of mid-size and large vans produced in-house: Citroën ë-Jumpy and ë-Jumper, Fiat Professional E-Scudo and E-Ducato, Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro and Movano, and Peugeot E-Expert and E-Boxer.

Light commercial sector

FleetCheck CEO Peter Golding described the decision as a ‘major blow’.

“We have been arguing for some time that hydrogen has a potentially important part to play in the future of zero emissions vehicles, especially in the light commercial sector where electrification is proving difficult for many businesses.

“The Vauxhall van promised a very real opportunity for that to happen and the news their parent company Stellantis has decided to halt all production plans until at least the end of the decade is a major blow. We believed the UK launch was imminent.”

“We talk to operators every day who would like to electrify their van fleet but are hitting issues with range, payload and charging times. The promise of hydrogen is that it offers zero emissions without any of these compromises, and the Vauxhall proposition was the opportunity to try this in the form of a familiar vehicle from a major manufacturer.

“Yes, significant hurdles would’ve remained, the biggest of which was the almost complete absence of a refuelling infrastructure. However, with no van, there is no way forward.”