Hydrogen or plug-in hybrid? Opel will bring both of these together in autumn: the Opel Vivaro-e Hydrogen has a hydrogen fuel cell on board, but its battery can also be charged externally.
The Vivaro-e Hydrogen is based on the purely electrically powered Vivaro-e. The 75 kWh battery is disposed of, instead a 10.5 kWh lithium-ion battery is placed under the front seats. Opel fills the vacated space under the loading floor with three 700-bar hydrogen made from carbon fiber. The complete fuel cell system sits under the front hood.
Two body variants are offered: size M with 4.96 meters and L with 5.31 meters. The loading volume corresponds to that of the electric Vivaro, i.e. 5.3 to 6.1 cubic meters. The payload increases to up to 1,100 kilograms. In addition, the Vivaro-e Hydrogen can be loaded practically from any side – from the rear or via the two sliding doors on the side.
The 45 kW fuel cell provides enough power for continuous driving on the motorway. When starting or accelerating, the lithium-ion battery provides support to cover peak loads. The fuel cell system always works under optimal operating conditions, which increases the service life. The electric drive has an output of 100 kW / 136 PS. A hydrogen filling should be enough for 400 kilometers according to WLTP, purely electrically the battery allows an additional 50 kilometers.
“Hydrogen is a future-oriented solution for an efficient energy system free of fossil fuels,” says Opel boss Michael Lohscheller. “We have more than 20 years of experience in developing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.”
The hydrogen Vivaro is built at Opel in Rüsselsheim. The global “Competence Center Hydrogen & Fuel Cells” of the parent company Stellantis is also located at the headquarters there.
The Vivaro-e Hydrogen expands the range of electrified light commercial vehicles from Opel. The battery-electric Opel Combo-e and Movano-e will follow this year. By the end of the year, the entire Opel portfolio of light commercial vehicles will be electrified.