Hydrogen Renault Masters on their way in France

HYVIA is a company that works within the green hydrogen (H2) mobility sector and last week they revealed two more hydrogen light commercial vehicle prototypes based on the Renault Master. Both new versions offer zero CO2 emissions, increased range and a refuelling time of just five minutes, the first is a Master Chassis Cab H2-TECH, while the second is the Master City Bus H2-TECH.

Renault Master Chassis Cab H2-TECH

The Renault Master Chassis Cab H2-TECH offers a 155 miles of range, it is equipped with a 30kW fuel cell, 33kWh battery and two tanks containing 3kg of hydrogen (divided between two 1.5kg tanks) at 700 bars.

This vehicle offers a wide range of tailor-made conversion options to professionals, adapting to their needs – including the use as a box van with 19 cubic metres of cargo space volume. The first conversion to be released, the box van is perfectly adapted to carry goods and packages up to 1,000kg in payload.

The onboard experience of the Master Chassis Cab H2-TECH is enhanced by displaying the hydrogen flow and advanced powertrain system in action to the driver and will available from next year (2022).

Renault Master City Bus H2-TECH

Joining the HYVIA line-up alongside the Master Chassis Cab and Master Van H2-TECH is the Master City Bus H2-TECH. Also using a 30kW fuel cell and 33kWh battery, the City Bus comes with a tank capacity of 4.5kg of hydrogen at 350 bars. This enables a range of around 186 miles (300km) while carrying up to 15 passengers, with room for nine sitting and six standing. It is also capable of being wheelchair accessible to enhance its versatility and options for use.

David Holserbach, HYVIA CEO says “HYVIA is moving fast. After less than six months of existence, we unveiled three Hydrogen Light Commercial Vehicles: a Van, a Chassis Cab and a City Bus. To meet different usages, for professional fleets or territories. We also revealed our Hydrogen Refuelling Station, to offer customer refuelling options where hydrogen infrastructure is still in development. HYVIA is about concrete solutions to be on track to meet the challenges of green hydrogen mobility and decarbonisation of transport.”

Full HYVIA ecosystem to be deployed in 2022

Of course, one of the many criticisms of hydrogen is the lack of infrastructure and HYVIA will deploy its full hydrogen ecosystem of hydrogen fuel cell commercial vehicles, as well as its refuelling stations during 2022 throughout France, allowing a refill in five minutes.

The Renault Master Van H2-TECH has12 cubic metres of cargo volume and a range of up to 310 miles (500km). It will be joined by the Master Chassis Cab H2-TECH which has the potential for numerous conversion options – including a box van offering 19 cubic metres of cargo volume – with a range of 155 miles (250km).

The Master City Bus H2-TECH will carry up to 15 passengers with a 186 miles range and rounds off the comprehensive HYVIA line-up for 2022.

The HYVIA H2-TECH vehicles and technology are all made in France with the vehicles produced at the Batilly plant, while the electric and hydrogen integration is completed by PVI, a Renault Group subsidiary based in Gretz-Armainvilliers. The electric motor is produced at Renault’s Cleon plant, while the fuel cell assembly and Hydrogen Refuelling Station will begin at the Flins plant, with more to come in the future.