EV giant Stellantis, with facilities in Europe and the US, has recently started a stringer offensive in the hydrogen automobile space, a rather unconventional strategy to go with the overall narrative of green mobility. The fact that the company has recently set goals for expanding the production of its new electric cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells to 100,000 units a year by 2030 can be viewed as the turning point for the car manufacturing industry toward a new sustainable energy model.
This decision says it all for its position on the journey to decarbonize operations and the growing strategic significance of hydrogen tech in the new mobility order. The company’s investment in hydrogen technology represents an increasing trend in the automotive industry, offering multiple powertrain solutions to meet elevated environmental standards and consumers’ expectations of a greener vehicle.
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will revolutionize the commercial vehicle market by capturing 40% share
Another notable trend from Stellantis is hydrogen fuel cell technology targeting commercial vehicles. According to Jean-Michel Billig, the man in charge of the group’s hydrogen program, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have the potential to corner 40% of the market share for commercial vehicles within the next decade.
This challenging goal emphasizes the perspective of hydrogen as a suitable replacement for conventional hydrocarbons, particularly for long-range cars and those that require frequent refueling. This approach agrees with the emerging view that diverse zero-emission technologies may be optimal for various forms of vehicles and applications.
Expanding production and market reach to drive massive growth in hydrogen vehicle sales globally
Stellantis is quickly increasing production of its hydrogen vehicles portfolio. The company started selling medium-sized commercial vehicles with a fuel cell in late 2022 and has sold 350 of them. It is now in the series production phase, a vital step in taking hydrogen vehicles to the marketplace. The expansion strategy consists of assembling bigger cars in Poland this year and quickly building up in North America.
One of the significant components of this strategy is the development of the RAM 5500 pick-up truck’s hydrogen fuel cell, which will be assembled in Mexico. Such expansion with a widely familiar vehicle model indicates Stellantis’ confidence in hydrogen technology’s applicability across different markets in North America.
Synergistic technologies will play a crucial role in meeting decarbonization goals for the automotive industry
For Stellantis, hydrogen fuel cells and battery electric vehicles are considered suitable technologies with their respective niches. By doing so, the company can provide a broader lineup of cars with zero emissions to accommodate various client requirements across the market segments. In this way, Stellantis prepares for the full-scale attainment of the critical goal of making a decarbonized European cars catalog by 2030.
Incorporating this strategy meets environmental needs and is appropriate for the company amid shifting trends in the automotive industry. The effort to diversify the powertrain technologies shows Stellantis’ readiness to embrace innovations and adaptation to the new form of powertrain to cater to the global market needs and the readiness level of the country’s infrastructures.
Strategic goals and innovation drive Stellantis’ success in sustainable vehicle development
Nevertheless, significant achievements have been made in vehicle sustainability due to the recent stringent, ambitious strategies of Stellantis toward hydrogen car production. For instance, the automaker’s strategic goals might be to produce 100,000 hydrogen vehicles annually by 2030 and capture the 40% market share of commercial vehicles. In that case, it will send a powerful signal about the potential of hydrogen in transportation systems.
The availability of hydrogen cars in the European and North American markets is evident through the hydrogen-powered RAM 5500, indicating the universality of this technology. Through its long-term household and growth strategies, Stellantis’s position is to deploy hydrogen and battery electric technologies and recognize the differentiation between them as critical in addressing industry challenges related to the decarbonization of the automotive sector.
This strategic direction not only enhances the company’s image in Stellantis as a producer of sustainable driving but also helps the company to address the emerging change in the industry that aims to fashion future environmentally-friendly mobility.
