A new hydrogen campervan has been unveiled by First Hydrogen.
Designed to have spacious living quarters and good ground clearance, the campervan concept promises to prioritise driver comfort and experience.
The concept has been developed in partnership with global mobility experts EDAG Group.
Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) can cover larger ranges and manage heavier payloads loads than equivalent battery electric vehicles (BEVs).
Refuelling a hydrogen vehicle takes mere minutes, approximately the same amount of time as a petrol or diesel vehicle.
With campervans demanding more auxiliary loads for cookers and boilers, hydrogen fuel cell appears to be more suited for leisure vehicles than BEVs, which require more battery cells to power these loads, adding to overall vehicle weight, depleting the vehicles’ energy more quickly.
Steve Gill, CEO of Automotive for First Hydrogen, says: "The First Hydrogen campervan is an example of how we see hydrogen fuel cell and other electric vehicle technologies having wider applications."We are successfully demonstrating the potential fuel cell technology has in the LCV class but are exploring how the technology can benefit other sectors including leisure vehicles.
"Connecting with nature is incredibly important for recreational vehicle owners and this concept indicates how a hydrogen vehicle could help people preserve the environment while enjoying van life."
The news follows the announcement that First Hydrogen is successfully starting 12-18-month-long commercial vehicle trials with its Generation I fuel cell LCV.
In collaboration with the UK Aggregated Hydrogen Freight Consortium (AHFC), road trials are commencing with award-winning fleet management company, Rivus.
Bernat Costa, Design Director at EDAG Spain, said: "The design for the camper shares similar design principles with the Generation II series; it is a clean, modern look that prioritises function and acknowledges the van's green fuel technology."It also shares the daytime-running light configuration, which makes the campervan instantly recognisable as a First Hydrogen vehicle.
"Ultimately, it incorporates features that are desirable for leisure vehicles, such as good vehicle lighting, which is especially useful for vehicle visibility when parked on the roadside or as a source of light when camped away from civilisation."
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