For fleet customers who need to fill up quickly or travel long distances in an emission-free van, the new Opel Vivaro-e HYDROGEN is a perfect choice. The Opel Vivaro-e HYDROGEN uses a hydrogen fuel cell and a lithium-ion battery to power its electric motor. The van makes no sacrifices in interior volume compared to vehicles using more conventional drive technologies because of the efficient packaging of the necessary hardware. It has a range of up to 400 kilometers on a full tank. Hydrogen refueling only takes three minutes.
The Opel Vivaro-e HYDROGEN has a towing capacity of 1,000 kg and can carry a payload of up to 6.1 cubic meters. In addition, it comes in two length options (4,959 and 5,306 millimeters).
The Opel Vivaro-e electric van was named "International Van of the Year 2021," serving as the basis for the new hydrogen fuel cell van. The Vivaro-e HYDROGEN operates on a fundamental principle: the fuel cell converts hydrogen and air into electricity, which then powers the electric motor. There is no byproduct of this reaction other than water vapor in the exhaust. Consequently, there are no emissions from this vehicle because it is electric.
The Opel Vivaro-e HYDROGEN utilizes a fuel cell system concealed beneath the car's hood, thanks to its innovative plug-in fuel-cell concept. There are three hydrogen tanks, each holding 700 bar and 4.4 kilograms of H2, installed in place of the drive battery in the undercarriage of the battery-electric Vivaro. As a result, body modifications are unnecessary to convert the battery-powered Vivaro-e into a fuel cell-powered transporter.
The Opel Vivaro-e HYDROGEN's fuel cell produces 45 kW, which is more than enough power for extended highway drives. Under the front seats is a 10.5 kWh lithium-ion battery that helps start, accelerate, and maintain top speed while covering peak loads. The fuel cell system is constantly exposed to the best possible conditions for operation, which extends its useful life. The Opel Vivaro-e HYDROGEN has the added benefit of a hybrid system, as well: The electric motor (generator) can be used to store braking energy that is then fed back into the battery (recuperation). In addition, the plug-in feature allows for convenient external battery charging, increasing the vehicle's range to 50 kilometers on electric power alone.
The new Opel Vivaro-e HYDROGEN doesn't sacrifice interior volume compared to vehicles powered by internal combustion engines because the entire drive technology is housed compactly. Furthermore, the load space is comparable in size to the diesel or battery-electric Vivaro variants, up to 5.3 (size M) or 6.1 cubic meters (size L). Up to one thousand kilograms can be carried. The hydrogen fuel cell van has sliding doors on both sides, so it can be loaded from the side or the back.
The Opel Vivaro-e HYDROGEN, like its battery-electric and internal combustion engine counterparts, also provides cutting-edge driver assistance systems and passenger-car-like comfort. Back-up cameras with a 180-degree field of view, as well as blind-spot monitors and parking assistants in the front and back, are all part of the base package. Voice recognition and the color touchscreen make the Multimedia Navi Pro infotainment system easy to navigate, which is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Dynamic route guidance and TMC messages are both included in the European road map navigation system. In addition, OpelConnect allows you to turn on the air conditioning or heating while charging, and the myOpel app lets you schedule when you want to charge.
Currently, Opel Special Vehicles (OSV) in Rüsselsheim is the only place where the Vivaro-e HYDROGEN is being produced. More than 20 years have been spent between Stellantis and Opel, perfecting the science and technology behind hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
Opel's lineup of commercial vehicles gives buyers a wide range of options when settling on the ideal drive concept for their specific needs. With fleet customers in mind, the Vivaro-e HYDROGEN series joins the existing Opel Vivaro-e, Opel Combo-e Cargo, and Opel Movano-e battery-electric vans. As of the year 2024, every Opel model will be available in an electric variant.
