2023 Vauxhall Vivaro-e Hydrogen confirmed for UK sale
New FCEV variant of van will go on sale in UK in 2023 with three-minute refuelling and 1100kg payload
The Vauxhall Vivaro-e Hydrogen van will be sold in the UK, with right-hand-drive examples set to arrive in early 2023.
Vauxhall is speaking to corporate fleet and business customers in the UK, claiming the new hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) "perfectly meets the requirements of fleet customers".
The Vivaro-e Hydrogen offers up to 249 miles of range with the same load capacity as equivalent internal-combustion and battery-electric models.
“The hydrogen van is the ideal solution for driving long distances with zero-emissions in use as well as for transporting larger loads without losing time while charging the batteries," said Marcus Lott, the head of development at Vauxhall's European sibling brand, Opel.
"The Vivaro-e Hydrogen leads zero-emissions mobility into the future, especially for commercial use.”
The new addition to Vauxhall's commercial line-up will be sold in left-hand-drive markets by Opel from the end of this year.
The Vivaro-e Hydrogen mates a 45kW fuel cell with three 700bar hydrogen tanks (which can be filled in just three minutes) and uses the same front-mounted 134bhp electric motor as the Vivaro-e BEV.
“We're set to add hydrogen to the line-up as an efficient energy system of the future,” said Vauxhall managing director Paul Willcox. “Vauxhall-Opel has more than 20 years of experience in developing hydrogen-fuel technology, which offers zero-emissions in use, a long driving range and ultra-fast refuelling.
“We're already in contact with UK fleet operators that want to go the extra mile on sustainability, and we look forward to bringing Vivaro-e Hydrogen to the UK soon."
The Vivaro-e Hydrogen retains the same body size as existing Vivaro variants, with the choice of a standard 4.95-metre or long 5.30-metre wheelbase, while payload capacity increases to 1100kg. Cargo volume remains the same, at up to 6.1 cubic metres.
The Vivaro-e Hydrogen will be produced at Opel’s research-and-development centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany.
It will be the first commercially available hydrogen powertrain from Opel and Vauxhall.
Ex-parent company General Motors' experimental HydroGen 4 system was brought to the UK for demonstration purposes a decade ago but never found its way into a production car.
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