Renault acts on fuel cell mobility plan

PARIS: Hyvia, a joint venture between the Renault group and Plug Power, dedicated exclusively to the development of hydrogen mobility solutions, has just inaugurated its first plant at the Flins Refactory in France's Yvelines region.

This is a fundamental step in the development of Renault's strategy, which aims to produce more and more hydrogen-powered models in the future.

The first assembled fuel cell modules will be used to power the Renault Master H2-Tech, an electric van powered with green hydrogen that is expected to be available later this year.

By the end of 2022, Hyvia plans to reach a production capacity of 1,000 units per year of 30kW fuel cells.

A fuel cell combines air and hydrogen to generate electrical power.

This fuel cell consists of a negative and a positive electrode, separated by a polymer membrane.

The result is a flow of electricity that supplies both the 33kWh battery and the 57kW electric motor.

On the other side, pure water comes out. For the record, a single fuel cell consists of nearly 450 components.

The hydrogen component of the company's "Renaulution" began in 2021, with the unveiling of a prototype electric van powered by green hydrogen, obtained from water electrolysis using renewable electricity.

A production version, intended primarily for companies and local authorities, should be available this year. Renault is also due to unveil a new hydrogen-powered concept car in May 2022. This could be the first production model of its kind.

Keep in mind that a hydrogen car can travel long distances without producing the slightest amount of CO2 emissions, as the vehicle only emits water.

In addition, it only takes a few minutes to fill up the car, unlike with the charging of an electric car.

Toyota, Honda and Hyundai are pioneers in this field.

In France, Renault is not the only one involved in this technology.

Stellantis, via Citroën, Peugeot and Opel, has also already presented several models, but only commercial vehicles for the moment.