Hydrogen power is changing the world. As a fuel, it contains three times more energy per kg than oil, yet produces zero carbon dioxide. Used in Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs), its only emission is pure water vapour. Hydrogen vehicles use a fuel cell to generate electricity from hydrogen to drive an electric motor. All the convenience of conventional fuel, but with all the advantages of a pure electric vehicle, hydrogen power puts green energy on the roads.
Why Hydrogen?
Carbon Dioxide Emissions
Hydrogen power is changing the world. As a fuel, it contains three times more energy per kg than oil, yet produces zero carbon dioxide. Used in Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs), its only emission is pure water vapour. Hydrogen vehicles use a fuel cell to generate electricity from hydrogen to drive an electric motor. All the convenience of conventional fuel, but with all the advantages of a pure electric vehicle, hydrogen power puts green energy on the roads.
Hydrogen as a Fuel
Hydrogen fuel cells don’t burn fuel like traditional powertrains. The drive is purely electric, but you can refuel the hydrogen just as quickly as a conventional fuel vehicle and also get the same range. Fluctuating renewable energy sources such as wind and solar can be used much more efficiently by converting the electricity they produce into hydrogen that enables storage and transportation of renewables.
Sustainable Hydrogen
Hydrogen is a basic element and is abundantly available in water. Separating the hydrogen from the oxygen in water requires electrical energy powering the process of electrolysis. If renewable sources like wind and solar are used to run the electrolysis, hydrogen fuel production has a totally neutral carbon footprint.
Hydrogen Filling Station Network
Germany leads the way in hydrogen refuelling station infrastructure in Europe with about 100 stations already in place and many more to come, expanding the network across Europe. The German government, in partnership with energy developers, are prioritising network expansion and investing billions of euros under the National Hydrogen Strategy.
Hydrogen fuel cells are the latest innovation in Opel’s constant push towards net-zero emissions using electric technologies. With the Vivaro Electric HYDROGEN, Opel puts into action the car manufacturers’ first hydrogen fuel cell powered transporter, representing 20 years of fuel cell research and development at Stellantis. Opel is committed to giving customers their choice of the ideal powertrain to suit their needs, empowering everyone to make an effortless and intuitive switch to zero-emission.
A whole new era in local-emission free transport begins now with the Vivaro Electric HYDROGEN. It combines all the advantages of zero-emission transportation with long range and 3-minute refuelling thanks to a Plug-in Hybrid Fuel Cell Electric drivetrain powered by a 45 kW hydrogen fuel cell. This revolutionary drive is so compact that the Vivaro Electric HYDROGEN makes no compromises on the versatile 5.3 or 6.1 m3 load and cabin space of the standard Vivaro.
3 Min
Refuels as fast and easy as any diesel or petrol vehicle.
400 km
400 km* range on a single 4.4 kg refill.
M/L
Available in two chassis lengths, providing 5.1 m3 or 6.1 m3 of load space.
* Specified provisional range determined using the WLTP test procedure (VO (EG) No. 715/2007 and VO (EU) No. 2017/1151). Actual range may vary under everyday conditions and depends on various factors, especially driving style, route conditions, outside temperature, use of heating, air conditioning and thermal preconditioning.
Are Hydrogen Fuel Cell vehicles better than Plug-in Battery ones?
The two technologies are complementary in getting closer to net-zero emissions. Battery vehicles are great for short distances, such as inside a city, while hydrogen excels at long range and fast refuelling, which is advantageous for e.g. cargo and taxi services.
Will turning on the heating in winter affect a hydrogen vehicle’s range?
Just like all electric vehicles, driving style and power consumption onboard the vehicle affects range. However, since the fuel cell system in an FCEV is running at about 80 °C, heat from the cooling system can be used to warm up the cabin in winter times, similar to vehicles with internal combustion engines. Thus, under cold weather conditions, range is less affected compared to pure battery-electric vehicles.
Will the hydrogen evaporate out of a parked car?
No. The hydrogen in the Opel Vivaro Electric HYDROGEN is stored as a gas in high-pressure tanks. This means that it won’t evaporate like in vehicles storing hydrogen as a cryogenic liquid.
What’s the working lifespan of a Fuel Cell?
Opel offers an 8-year, 160, 000 km warranty on the hydrogen fuel cell electric drive by.
