Michelin, Stellantis and Forvia inaugurated, a few days ago, their gigafactory made in France for hydrogen fuel cells, in the Rhône, marking a giant step towards a green energy future.
France is moving forward in the hydrogen race. It is moving forward not only with the largest planetary deposit which has just been discovered on our soil, but also with the inauguration of the gigantic hydrogen fuel cell factory in Saint-Fons (Rhône department), the result of the collaboration between Stellantis , Michelin, and Forvia (formerly Faurecia), companies grouped under a common banner, the company Symbio. This is a major step in the development of the French sector, for what is now the largest European factory of its kind.
France, the nerve center of hydrogen?
Located in Saint-Fons, not far from Lyon in the chemical valley, the gigafactory whose management has been entrusted to Symbio covers 26,000 m², with an expansion planned to 40,000 m² in the long term. It is quite simply the largest integrated fuel cell production site in Europe. It must also accommodate 450 full-time engineers.
If, today, the place is designed to produce 16,000 units per year, its managers aim to reach 50,000 units by 2026. A wish worthy of a colossal project which positions France as a leader European in the production of hydrogen fuel cells.
The project will have required 600 million investment, with the support of local authorities, such as Greater Lyon and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, as well as the French State, for cooperation which will have been crucial. The factory, called SymphonHy, is part of an industrial project called “HyMotive”, supported by the government and the European Union, which plans to install a second gigafactory in France from 2028.
The latter will help HyMotive to produce up to 100,000 systems each year, for a total investment estimated at one billion euros over seven years.
International ambitions for the project stakeholders, Stellantis in the lead
Let’s return to Symbio, a joint venture owned by Michelin, Stellantis and Forvia. Together, the three players want to make this factory a major global player in the production of hydrogen fuel cells. With Philippe Rosier at its head, Symbio hopes to produce 200,000 units by 2030, counting in particular on the aura of the Stellantis group to reach the North American market, thanks to Ram pickups or large vans. Symbio already has a pilot plant in California, which will first be supplied by the group’s European locations.
Symbio has every interest in intensifying its efforts in the face of growing Chinese competition in the field of hydrogen. The company wants to capitalize on hydrogen as a credible alternative to improve the autonomy of fuel cell electric vehicles.
The Saint-Fons gigafactory symbolizes not only a major industrial breakthrough for France but also the energy transition of the automobile industry towards hydrogen. Manufacturers, including Stellantis, consider hydrogen vehicles as promising alternatives, favoring their rapid charging and extended autonomy. For its large Peugeot e-Expert, Citroën e-Jumpy and Open Vivaro-e vans, the group offers a range of up to 500 km, with a recharge time of less than 10 minutes. And as we explained above, Stellantis is now setting its sights on the pickups of its RAM brand, these vehicles very popular in certain American states, such as Nevada or Arizona.
Symbio’s gigafactory will hopefully help redefine the landscape of the automotive industry, paving the way for an era where hydrogen is destined to play a central role in sustainable mobility.
Source : Michelin
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