Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology
Fuel cells convert hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy. They are the heart of the technology developed by Symbio to accelerate the roll-out of zero-emission hydrogen mobility.
Hydrogen fuel cells are an effective solution for achieving zero-emission mobility.
Today, hydrogen fuel cell enjoy widespread industrial, political and media support as a recognized solution for zero-emission mobility. As a result, this technology is increasingly used in both on-road vehicles (such as vans, buses, pickup trucks and heavy duty trucks ) and off-road vehicles and equipment (such as construction and agriculture machinery, forklifts, boats or trains.)
The benefits of fuel cells
Positive for health :
- Zero emission of CO2 and NOx during use
- No noise nuisance
Positive for the planet :
- Low environmental impact
- Possibility of storing renewable energies produced by non-controllable sources (wind, solar)
Positive for mobility :
- Short refuelling time (< 5 minutes)
- Energy efficiency
- Powerful driveline and driving comfort of the electric technology
- Range of around 400 km
- Technical reliability and durability
- Adaptability to different types of mobility
Discover all fuel cell advantages here!
For hydrogen mobility to be truly clean, it must be powered by “green” hydrogen, i.e., produced using a renewable energy source (solar, wind, biogas, geothermal, etc.) or “decarbonized” hydrogen.
Find out more about our fuel cell specifications here
What is a fuel cell stack? How does it work?
A fuel cell stack is the heart of fuel cell system. It gathers numerous individual fuel cells stacked on top of each other. They are composed of the four elements enabling the electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen; the End plates, Bipolar plates, Gaz Diffusion Layers, Membrane Electrode Assemblies.
It is the fuel cell stack that generates electricity and releases only water vapor and heat, making it a “zero-emission” technology.
There are different types of hydrogen fuel cells. We have opted for the PEM fuel cell technology (Proton Exchange Membrane), in which the electrolyte consists of a polymer membrane.
Our fuel cell stack applied to Stellantis commercial vehicles
Combining the advantages of fuel cells with those of electric batteries in a fuel cell electric vehicle is particularly well-suited to the needs of light commercial vehicle customers looking for long range, fast refuelling and zero emissions, without compromising on payload.
We have worked closely with Stellantis, a pioneer in decarbonized mobility, to develop a range of zero-emission hydrogen powered Peugeot Expert, Citroën Jumpy and Opel Vivaro light commercial vehicles for the European market. Thanks to their mid-power architecture, combing fuel cell stack and battery, they offer a range of over 400 kilometers (certification pending) and a refuelling time of 3 minutes. To preserve payload, all the components of the hydrogen propulsion system are located outside the load area. The fuel cell stack can also be retrofited into existing battery electric light commercial vehicles.
This battery/fuel cell hybridization allows the vehicle to use the best energy source for each situation :
- at start-up and low speeds, only the battery is used
- at cruising speed, the energy required by the electric motor
- during acceleration phases, the fuel cell and battery are used to generate the energy required by the motor
- during braking and deceleration phases, the battery is recharged
