Symbio FCell Collaborates with DHL Releasing a Fleet of Hydrogen Powered Zero-Emission Delivery Vehicles in Lyon

In a groundbreaking step towards the commercial deployment of zero-emission electric vehicles, DHL Express in Lyon adopts Renault Kangoo ZE vehicles powered by Symbio FCell’s hydrogen range extender, as part of HyWay Project.

Symbio FCell announces DHL’s adoption of the Renault Kangoo ZE motorized by Symbio FCell’s hydrogen powered fuel-range extender. This comes as part of HyWay project which aims to develop the European Hydrogen Roadmap. These hydrogen powered Renault Kangoo ZE will be adopted by DHL Express in order to carry out deliveries in the center of Lyon for a period of 18 months, commencing the 3rd March, 2015. The combination of electricity and hydrogen will increase battery durability from 120km to over 300km, allowing DHL Express to make deliveries in Lyon with neither CO2 emissions nor noise pollution.

The Renault Kangoo ZE vehicles are fitted with a hydrogen range-extender of 5 kW which doubles the energy capacity and battery life. The vehicle, once fully charged has a maximum capacity of 1.7kg of hydrogen, offers a total autonomy of 300km, making it three times as large as a classic electric model. The vehicles will only need fueling every 3 to 4 days, using one of the two hydrogen filling stations that have been constructed for this project in Lyon and Grenoble. The vehicles will drive around 400km each week, saving the equivalent of 73kg of CO2 not released into the atmosphere, for a total economy of nearly 3.8 tons of CO2 per year.

Symbio FCell provides mobility solutions based on the conversion of hydrogen to electricity thanks to PEM Fuel Cell systems. These solutions can be integrated in a large panel of applications for passengers or goods transportation. The hydrogen fuel range-extender offers a significant increase in battery capacity as well as guaranteeing the maximum reduction of carbon footprint since the only particle produced is water.

Fabio Ferrari, CEO of Symbio FCell: ‘We are extremely proud to aid the energy transition of such an important operator as DHL. It is a strong signal to the transportation industry that alternative solutions and 100% zero emissions are viable and perennial. The Symbio FCell hydrogen range-extender opens the door to the replacement of all diesel vehicles whilst still retaining the same operational capacities.’