The Dutch construction company Jos Scholman will purchase 16 Opel Vivaro-e Hydrogen vehicles. The 16 fuel cell transporters will expand Jos Scholman’s hydrogen-powered fleet, which already consists of around 30 FCEVs, including cars, tractors and diggers.
The Opel Vivaro-e Hydrogen, presented in mid-2021, will be mass-produced at the Hordain plant in France, along with the Peugeot e-Expert Hydrogen and the Citroën ë-Jumpy Hydrogen. The hydrogen-powered vehicles will be assembled on the site’s multi-energy line, the same that previously produced the electric and combustion engine versions.
The Vivaro-e Hydrogen is based on the Vivaro-e battery-electric van and adopts the familiar 100 kW powertrain used in numerous Opel, Peugeot, DS and Citroën models. The FC van will only be available in M and L lengths (4.96 and 5.30 metres). The S length (4.60 metres) is missing, as additional space is needed for the hydrogen tanks installed in the underbody instead of the 75-kWh battery. The tanks hold 4.4 kilograms of hydrogen and should provide a range of around 400 kilometres. And the high-voltage storage unit has an energy content of 10.5 kWh. In addition, unlike most FCEVs, the battery can also be charged by cable – at 11 kW in 60 minutes. The battery is installed under the front seats and is similar to the one used in plug-in hybrid models.
“We see a major role for hydrogen in the transition to sustainable energy sources and fuels. We have had hydrogen cars in our company since 2019, currently with around thirty vehicles altogether, including tractors and large mobile cranes,” says Robert Scholman, co-owner and son of founder Jos Scholman. “We are delighted to now be adding sixteen Opel Vivaro-e HYDROGEN light commercial vehicles to our fleet. This will greatly contribute to our sustainability targets for transporting small equipment and urban distribution..”
