The SUEZ Group has been conducting real world trials of Citroën ë-Jumpy Hydrogen at its Carcassonne site in France and has reported positive feedback.
Hydrogen technology allows for optimum practicality and wide-ranging usage requirements thanks to quick refuelling times that ensure vehicles are almost permanently operational.
It’s also less sensitive when it comes to carrying heavy loads, driving speeds and weather conditions.
A complete refuel in the Citroën ë-Jumpy Hydrogen takes just six minutes from a 350 bar pump, while stations fitted with a 700 bar pump can refill in half that time.
The 10.5kWh battery – providing a 31 mile backup power supply if the hydrogen tanks run out – is very easy to charge on a standard 230V socket.
The range meets the needs of the 44 per cent of customers in the compact van segment who say they occasionally travel more than 185 miles.
Related: Renault Master H2-TECH prototype is latest hydrogen van development
The load volume of ë-Jumpy Hydrogen is the same as for the standard Citroën Jumpy, with 5.3m3 for the medium body style and 6.1m3 for the XL version.
This also means a payload and towable load of up to 1 tonne on both versions, and a width between the wheel-arches of 1.25m.
The hydrogen technology combines a Lithium-ion battery with a fuel cell connected to hydrogen tanks.
When hydrogen and air are brought into contact with a catalyst, the fuel cell generates electricity to power an electric motor.
The only emission produced is water vapour.
Compared to a battery, a fuel cell is considered more as an energy converter than a storage device.
This hybrid solution was chosen by Citroën following research conducted in partnership with Symbio, a joint venture specialising in fuel cells created by Michelin and Faurecia.
Citroën ë-Jumpy Hydrogen benefits from both a 10.5kWh Lithium-ion battery and a 45kW fuel cell, powered by three 700 bar hydrogen tanks, developed by Faurecia, with a storage capacity of up to 4.4kg of hydrogen.
Because this solution positions the battery pack under the seats at the front and the hydrogen tanks under the floor in the rear of the van, the modifications have no impact on the load volume of the vehicle.
This system also ensures there is no compromise in performance, with a fuel cell powerful enough to guarantee constant speed on the motorway.
Related: Ford Transit fuel cell electric vehicle prototype marks start of hydrogen van development
The battery then provides the energy required for acceleration and the extra power required when starting and for the first few miles on the road.
Hybrid technology also means that the battery provides reserve power when the hydrogen tanks are empty, meaning drivers reduce the risks of ‘running dry’.
The versatile technology seen in Citroën ë-Jumpy Hydrogen will play an essential role for mobility solutions in the transition to greener energy sources.
By 2055 in Europe, 450,000 Light Commercial Vehicles and 10,000 trucks are expected to run on hydrogen. To meet expected demand, the network of stations should expand to include 10,000 charging points. Industrial companies in the sector are likely to invest €430bn over the next 10 years, with subsidies from Europe and member states accounting for around 25% of the total. The number of hydrogen fuel stations is set to increase from 133 in 2021 to 2,500 in 2030, including 1,000 in France and 1,000 in Germany. Over the same period, the price-per-kilo of hydrogen could be halved.
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