Stellantis showed off its hydrogen fuel cell commercial van at the Paris Motor Show last year.
Jeep maker Stellantis said it was pulling plugs on Wednesday with plans to build a light van using hydrogen fuel cells, and it said it had no prospect of commercially viable.
The stable company, which also includes Peugeot, Citroen and Fiat, was planning to start serial production of commercial vans equipped with hydrogen fuel cells at sites in northern France and southern Poland this summer.
“The hydrogen market remains a niche segment, although there is no prospect of medium-term economic sustainability,” said Jean-Philippe Imparato, Chief Operating Officer of Stellantis in the European region.
The company cited the limited availability of hydrogen refueling infrastructure, high capital requirements, and the need for stronger consumer purchase incentives.
“We must make clear and responsible choices to ensure competitiveness and to hit electric and hybrid passengers and light commercial vehicles to meet customer expectations,” Imparato added.
Hydrogen fuel cell technology was considered a rival to battery electric vehicles to reach zero emissions. When hydrogen and air are fed to the cells, electricity and water are produced.
The technology can provide faster refill times than charging an electric battery, but it also includes creating expensive new infrastructure. Most hydrogen is now produced from natural gas without capturing greenhouse gas emissions.
Only Toyota, Hyundai and BMW are still developing fuel cell vehicles, with few on the roads.
Renault, France, closed its hydrogen fuel cell factory at the beginning of the year.
Stellantis said factory staff will be reassigned to other tasks, but acknowledged that the move will create “financial challenges” for fuel cell supplier Symbio.
Stellantis acquired a stake in Symbio in 2023 along with tire maker Michelin and auto parts supplier Forvia.
Symbio opened a fuel cell factory near the French city of Lyon in 2023.
Stellantis said it has begun discussions with other Symbio shareholders, but Michelin called the announcement “unexpected, brutal and uncoordinated.”
Forvia pointed out that Stellantis accounts for almost 80% of Symbio’s activity.
Stellantis’ announcement said it would have serious, immediate operational and economic impacts on Symbio’s future.
©2025 AFP
Quote: Stellantis pulls plugs of hydrogen fuel cell van (2025, July 16) obtained from https://techxplore.com/news/2025-07 Stellantis-hydrogen-fuel-cell-vans.html on July 16, 2025.
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