The German automotive house presents a brand new and very special version of its van, a sales record.

The world of sustainable mobility also affects the goods handling sector.

Opel has always been synonymous with its "Vivaro" van, which has characterized the delivery of parcels throughout Europe in recent years. The Opel Vivaro can easily be compared to other great examples of means of transport for the delivery of goods, such as the Fiat Ducato or the Renault Master and also the Mercedes Sprinter.

An interesting novelty, however, is the inclusion of an electric and hydrogen light commercial vehicle, ideal for those who have to travel long distances, or need to refuel in a few minutes.

The new vehicle presented by Opel tries to remedy the critical issues of the long recharging time, which is necessary for all electric vehicles. The new Vivaro is in fact an electric vehicle with fuel cells and plug-in battery.

This technology is really very compact and there is no need to sacrifice load space, compared to traditional engines.

It takes just 3 minutes to refuel with hydrogen and the range reaches up to 400 km. It is therefore a time very comparable to the classic tank of petrol or diesel.

With a load volume of up to 6 m3 and a payload of 1000 kg, the vehicle is therefore suitable for being a leader in proximity delivery or even for medium mileage.

Available in two lengths, it can reach up to 5 meters and 30 cm, and has already entered the fleet of Miele, the German manufacturer of household appliances.

The idea is really very simple, and allows you to combine rapid refueling with zero emissions and plenty of range. The principle that pushes and gives movement to the vehicle is really simple. Starting from hydrogen and air, fuel cells produce the electrical energy needed to drive the electric motor.

The only product of this reaction is therefore water vapour, which escapes from the rear exhausts. Technically, therefore, it is a zero-emission electric vehicle that runs on hydrogen.

The fuel cells are rated at 45kW and are perfectly capable of generating power for comfortable city driving. The lithium ion battery is positioned under the front seats and thanks to it has a high peak power when we have to be dynamic in the city, or when accelerating.

In this way the vehicle always behaves in optimal mode, whatever the driving environment. The Opel Vivaro also features a regenerative braking system.

Let's not forget the plugin function, which allows you to recharge the battery at a public column. In this way, you have 50 km of autonomy in all-electric mode.

As we have said, above there are two lengths that can even reach 6 cubic meters of load volume. Loading and unloading operations are facilitated and further facilitated, thanks to the sliding doors on both sides.

A medium therefore really unusually broad and easy to use in everyday life which also increases the level of safety.

In fact, the equipment of the vehicle includes a panoramic rear view camera with 180-degree vision, as well as a blind spot and front-rear parking assistance. To facilitate city driving, especially during the most hectic parcel delivery phases, an infotainment system has been included which can be managed via voice recognition or even the color touch screen.

Of course, there is no lack of integration with smartphones, in particular Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The navigator is equipped with maps covering all of Europe, in addition to dynamic route indications.

This vehicle therefore offers itself as a valid and truly concrete alternative to all the detractors of sustainable mobility who are thinking about which green power source to use in the future.

This medium is the clear and glaring evidence that hydrogen and electricity can be combined safely inside a vehicle.

We also recall that Opel has set itself the goal of offering the public an electrified version of every car and every commercial vehicle by 2024.

The only doubt is the location of the hydrogen recharging columns. They are currently located mostly in northern Italy, in particular in Trentino, but it is obviously hoped that this type of power supply will be supported by the institutions, in order to have a perfect and balanced combination between hydrogen cars and electric cars.

Several car and truck manufacturers are in fact pushing for the hydrogen version of vehicles, especially heavy vehicles. Strong international investments are arriving in hydrogen, as trucks with electric traction, according to some, could have problems in terms of autonomy.

Hydrogen, on the other hand, is easily exploitable, inside a recharging station, and allows for a recharging time that is very similar to the classic refueling of petrol or diesel. We will therefore see what the future holds for us, and whether the majority of car manufacturers will continue to push electricity in particular, partially ignoring hydrogen.

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credit photo STELLANTIS media press
https://www.media.stellantis.com/it-it/