25-8-2023
• To open the Formula 1™ Dutch Grand Prix, CEOs and main spokespersons from Alpine, HYVIA, Plug and Renault Group will discuss their respective and collective commitments to sustainable hydrogen mobility at the "Fueling the future with hydrogen" conference on 25 August in Zandvoort.
• Alpine is developing carbon-free mobility solutions. Hydrogen is one way in which the brand is exploring this through its Alpenglow concept car. Driven by a hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine suited to sports and racing cars, the vehicle combines Alpine's key qualities: lightness, aerodynamics, and design.
• Based in France, HYVIA, a joint venture between Renault Group and Plug, is deploying a unique and complete H2 ecosystem for professionals that includes light commercial vehicles with fuel cells, hydrogen refueling stations, supply of carbon-free hydrogen, services for financing and maintenance of fleets. A first homologated hydrogen-powered van is already on the road: Renault Master Van H2-TECH.
• Plug, which has been involved in H2 for 20 years, is the world leader in turnkey hydrogen fuel cell solutions. It has been extending its expertise in green hydrogen production, storage, and distribution networks in Europe for the last 10 years. Plug has been a partner of the BWT Alpine F1 Team™ for three years.
• Renault Group is investing in hydrogen as a complement to its electric offer, initially to meet the intensive needs of professionals through HYVIA.
• The Netherlands, always at the forefront of zero-emission mobility, will transform around 30 towns into low-emission zones by 2024.
"At Alpine, racing, and Formula 1 in particular, are veritable laboratories for the development of tomorrow's technologies. Alpenglow allows us to explore different possibilities around the hydrogen internal combustion engine, which is well suited to sporting applications. Hydrogen will probably be an essential energy carrier for tomorrow's mobility. Alpine needs to be at the forefront of this research, as hydrogen could well be an essential step in the decarbonisation of the next generation of Formula 1 and endurance racing cars," explains Bruno Famin, VP Motorsports Alpine.
"Since its debuts in June 2021, HYVIA has made its mark on the hydrogen-powered light commercial vehicle market with fuel cell technology. Our ambition is to achieve 30% of the segment in Europe by 2030. After being homologated in Europe early 2023, Renault Master Van H2-TECH has been tested in the Netherlands, France, Spain and more recently in Germany. The Netherlands is an important market for HYVIA. We have just signed orders with important Dutch players, GP Groot, Warmtebouw and Pot Verhuizingen. And continuing our commitment to Alpine, in September we will be supplying a Renault Master Van H2-TECH to the teams at the Viry-Châtillon site for their logistics needs as illustrated by the F1 Grand Prix road trip we did this week, from France to the Netherlands," explains David Holderbach, CEO HYVIA.
"Plug has been building a complete green hydrogen ecosystem for several years, integrating the entire value chain of production, storage and delivery. We have made a major contribution to decarbonization, having deployed more than 60,000 fuel cell systems and over 185 refueling stations, more than anyone else in the world. Today, our ambition is to extend our know-how to the world of transport to develop hydrogen-powered mobility solutions. In Europe, with our partner Renault Group, we are supporting the deployment of hydrogen-powered vehicles with HYVIA, by contributing our cutting-edge fuel cell technology and the production of green hydrogen using proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis. We have been a proud partner of BWT Alpine F1 Team™ for three years, and are excited about the arrival of hydrogen in Formula 1," explains Andy Marsh, CEO Plug.
"As a pioneer in new energies and the European leader in electric commercial vehicles, Renault Group is pursuing its objective of having the greenest mix on the market by 2030. Today, hydrogen is particularly relevant for intensive use by professionals and complements electric power to offer sustainable, customised and intelligent solutions without compromise. Priority is being given to HYVIA's hydrogen-powered light commercial vehicles, supported by the Renault Pro+ distribution network," explains Heinz-Jürgen Löw, Senior Vice-President, Renault Brand Light Commercial Vehicle.
"For several years now, the Netherlands has been at the forefront of zero-emission mobility. Some thirty cities will become low-emission zones by 2024. Renault Group is one of the leaders in this fast-changing Dutch market. Our aim is to be part of this trend by offering low-carbon vehicles to meet the strong demand, particularly from professionals. With the first orders signed and with our four strategic HYVIA partners for service, repair and maintenance: Bochane Groep, Stam Autobedrijven,Terwolde and Van Mossel, we have paved the way to expand this trend with hydrogen-powered light commercial vehicles," explains Anouk Poelmann, CEO Renault Group Nederland.