Stellantis is engaged on hydrogen combustion engines as one in all 4 totally different options to zero-emissions driving, CEO Carlos Tavares has mentioned.
Tavares was talking on the opening of the Symbio hydrogen gasoline cell manufacturing facility in Lyon, France. Symbio is an equally owned three way partnership between Stellantis, automotive provider Forvia and tyre maker Michelin.
Stellantis – which owns 14 automotive makers, together with Alfa Romeo, Citroën, Jeep, Peugeot and Vauxhall – is attempting to diversify the variety of drivetrains accessible beneath European Union decarbonisation guidelines.
“Hydrogen injection is one of the four technologies we’re working on,” Tavares mentioned after the plant opening.
He criticised legislators for his or her “brutal” strategies to maneuver automotive makers away from fossil fuels and steering them in the direction of EVs.
“Now the dogmatic thinking is being hurt by reality, because if you aren’t affordable, then people can’t pay for it,” he mentioned.
Stellantis is diversifying its drivetrain choices to cater to these prospects for whom EV charging is a downside.
“The real competition is starting between fuel cell, EVs, hydrogen internal combustion engines and even synthetic fuels,” Tavares mentioned. “We will see in the next few years what is going to be the best solution for the citizens.”
Burning hydrogen in combustion engines has been seen as the best resolution for zero-emissions driving, particularly amongst business car makers, given the shortage of disruption to produce chains it might trigger in contrast with BEVs or FCEVs.
Petrol engines must be modified to simply accept hydrogen, however a lot of the identical mechanism stays. The hurdles then are establishing a refuelling community and making inexperienced hydrogen at scale.
Tavares didn’t say which automobiles could be provided with hydrogen combustion engines, however Stellantis has already begun promoting its K0 vary of mid-size vans (assume the Vauxhall Vivaro) with a hydrogen gasoline cell choice.
Stellantis can even supply a hydrogen gasoline cell model of the Ram Heavy Duty pick-up truck within the US in late 2026 or early 2027, Tavares mentioned.
Hydrogen tanks are simpler to bundle in a van, whereas the lesser weight of a fuel-cell or hydrogen-combustion van in contrast with a battery-electric one would enable for a larger payload.
Toyota has demonstrated hydrogen combustion engines in each Toyota Yaris and Toyota Corolla race vehicles working in Japan, whereas the Renault Group has showcased one within the Alpine Alpenglow supercar idea.