The first Vivaro-e Hydrogen from Opel, the sister brand of Vauxhall, has rolled off the production line in Germany.
Produced at the Opel Special Vehicles (OSV) facility in Rüsselsheim, it will perform daily field service in the Rhine-Main region of Germany in the fleet of domestic appliance manufacturer Miele.
Vauxhall is currently speaking to business customers in the UK now about the Vivaro-e Hydrogen and expects right-hand drive vehicles to arrive from early 2023.
The hydrogen fuel cell vehicle is based on the existing battery electric Vivaro-e and with full tanks of hydrogen, the driving range is more than 249 miles.
Also, its 45kW fuel cell is capable of generating enough power for continuous highway driving and takes three minutes to refuel with hydrogen.
The 10.5kWh lithium-ion battery provides dynamic peak power when required, for example, at start-up and under acceleration.
Its battery also enables regenerative braking, while the plug-in capability offers the opportunity to recharge the battery externally if necessary, for example at a charging station.
In addition it has up to 5.3m3 or 6.1m3 of cargo volume and is available in lengths M and L (4.95m and 5.30m).
Uwe Hochgeschurtz, Opel CEO, said, “With the new Opel Vivaro-e Hydrogen we are opening the next chapter in our sustainable mobility offensive.
“The clever concept combines the advantages of hydrogen fuel cell propulsion with the versatility and capabilities of our best-selling light commercial vehicle.”
Marcus Lott, head of development at Opel, added, “The new Vivaro-e Hydrogen perfectly meets the requirements of fleet customers.
“The hydrogen van is the ideal solution for driving long distances with zero-emissions-in-use as well as for transporting larger loads without losing time while charging the batteries.
“The Opel Vivaro-e Hydrogen leads zero-emissions mobility into the future, especially for commercial use.”
