In a major step towards the commercial deployment of zero-emission hydrogen-powered electric vehicles, Symbio FCell has put on the road the first five new Renault Kangoo ZE light commercial vehicles equipped with its hydrogen Fuel Cell Range-Extender, as part of a full fleet project led by the Conseil Général de la Manche whose ambition is to pioneer the green hydrogen production and distribution in France.
La Manche, which aims to deploy a total of 40 hydrogen-powered vehicles, also counts amongst the first departments in France to own a hydrogen filling station (active in Saint Lo) and five plug-in hybrid battery fuel cell light vehicles. Furthermore, it has an important potential for low-carbon electricity production, based on marine renewable energies (hydrokinetic and offshore wind) and nuclear.
The Symbio FCell Range-Extender recharges the battery when it drops below a certain level and permits the vehicle to be refueled with 1.8kg of hydrogen, 1kg of which powers a distance of over 100km; the range-extender therefore almost doubles the daily range of battery powered vehicles and reduces the investment in battery recharging infrastructure for large fleets. “Closer to a traditional ICE vehicle, this technology ensures seamless operations for professional intensive urban usages as demonstrated in previous experimentations such as La Poste,” said Fabio Ferrari, CEO of Symbio FCell.
Symbio FCell provides mobility solutions based on the conversion of hydrogen to electricity thanks to PEM Fuel Cell systems, powering from 5 kW to 300 kW still remaining zero emissions. These solutions can be integrated in a large panel of applications and are well adapted to road vehicles, fluvial boats and other types of platforms with intensive usage cycle in urban area.
Source: Symbio FCell
