2002 Peugeot H2O - AllCarIndex

PSA Peugeot Citroën and Intelligent Energy Unveil H2Origin

Fuel-Cell Powered Zero Emissions Vehicle

In Loughbourough, near Birmingham, UK, PSA Peugeot Citroën and Intelligent Energy today presented the results of their joint H2Origin research project, aimed at fitting an advanced technology fuel cell stack into a zero-emissions urban delivery van to power its electric drivetrain.

The three-year partnership has culminated in the development of the Peugeot Partner H2Origin technology demonstrator, whose electric drivetrain is powered by the latest generation Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells.

This new-generation 10 kWe system delivers several important benefits:

• A range of 300 km, three times that of a conventional battery-powered EV.

• Compact design for both the fuel cell stack and ancillary equipment, enabling integration into the front engine bay in place of the internal combustion engine.

• Vehicle start at temperatures as low as -20°C, representing a major advance for a fuel-cell powered vehicle.

A groundbreaking 700-bar hydrogen storage system also enhances mobility and makes the vehicle easier to operate:

• 70% more hydrogen can be carried on board, without any increase in the size or weight of the storage tanks.

• Range is extended, without having to plug the vehicle into a power source to recharge the batteries, enabling it to be used in a wider variety of applications.

• The hydrogen tanks are mounted on a sliding rack under the rear cargo area, making it fast and easy to swap in new ones. This offers a practical alternative to refueling at a service station and eliminates a major obstacle to the development of hydrogen vehicles.

An active prove-out strategy to be ready from day one

With the Peugeot Partner H2Origin, PSA Peugeot Citroën is demonstrating its commitment to actively exploring potential solutions in an area that holds considerable promise among the various automotive energy paradigms emerging as a new century unfolds. This technology intelligence process is in line the consensus among experts and industry observers that mass production automotive fuel cells could become a reality towards 2020.

There are still major obstacles that must be overcome, including costs that preclude affordable use in automobiles and the size and weight of the hydrogen tanks. What’s more, the use of hydrogen as a fuel source is still in its infancy, and moving forward will require a commitment by governments and supranational organizations, as well as a shift in energy policy, none of which the automobile industry can control.

The H2Origin demonstrator has enabled PSA Peugeot Citroën to further advance up the automotive fuel cell learning curve and to be ready to move forward with fuel-cell based ZEV solutions as soon as market conditions and the energy environment allow.

H2Origin is the sixth fuel-cell vehicle built by PSA Peugeot Citroën since 2000.