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Hyvia: Manufacturing of Van Fuel Cells Opens in Flins
Only nine months after its establishment, HYVIA, a joint venture between the Renault Group and fuel cell specialist Plug Power, has opened a plant in the Refactory. At the Renault Group's circular economy production site in Flins, this marks the first step of a comprehensive industrial project. The company is now ready to begin the assembly and testing of fuel cell modules based on Plug Power's technology. The 30 kW fuel cell is set to power the 3.5-ton transporter Renault Master H2-TECH as a van, chassis, and city bus. By the end of 2022, the plant will also commence the assembly of H2 refueling stations and the production of low-carbon hydrogen with an initial electrolyzer, the company announced. The joint venture aims to capture a 30 percent share of the European H2 market for light commercial vehicles by 2030.
"We combine the expertise of the Renault Group, a dominant player in the automotive industry, and Plug Power, a global leader in turnkey hydrogen and fuel cell solutions," explained David Holderbach, CEO of HYVIA.
The HYVIA plant is part of the Re-energy pillar of the strategic Refactory site in Flins. Its commissioning embodies the strong ambitions of the Renault Group in the field of H2 mobility, which complements electromobility. It will help strengthen local integration and create value in France and Europe, reaffirmed Luca de Meo, CEO of the Renault Group.
"Together, we are taking meaningful steps to combat climate change," added Andy Marsh, CEO of Plug Power.
The Plant as the Beginning of a Larger Industrial Project
The plant in Flins is only the first step of a broader industrial project, starting with an area of 3,000 m² and a team of around 15 employees. By the end of 2022, the assembly and testing lines for fuel cells are expected to have a capacity of 1,000 fuel cells per year. The assembly line for the H2 refueling stations is also set to start, along with the creation of an H2 supply with the installation of a 1 MW electrolyzer. This will supply the plant with hydrogen, with a capacity of 450 kilos of H2 per day to test fuel cells and H2 refueling stations. Additionally, the facility will also be equipped with fuel cell-powered forklifts.
Further Expansion in the Coming Years
In the coming years, the plant is to be further ramped up in a second phase to increase local and vertical integration. The operations team previously received special training on fuel cell construction in France and the United States. The 30-kW fuel cell utilizes Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) technology, based on proven Plug Power technology. It brings together air and hydrogen, enabling higher performance and range for mobility. Both air and hydrogen flow into the fuel cell stack, the "heart" of the fuel cell. The stack consists of a negative electrode (anode) and a positive electrode (cathode), separated by a polymer membrane. The hydrogen molecules are split into electrons and cations. The electrons go into an external circuit and generate an electric current, which powers both the 33-kWh battery — taken from the current fully electric Master Z.E. — and directly the 57-kW electric motor from Renault’s shelves. The cations pass through the polymer membrane and combine with the anions from the air to form water.
The fuel cell stack is connected to a large system of about 450 components and flows (air, H2, electricity, coolant, and water). The assembly line of the facility is now prepared to begin assembling the complex components, including the high-performance controller and inverter, the air filter, the compressor and humidifier, the coolant system, and the final assembly of the heart of the fuel cell. The test area for the fuel cell is already operational on-site thanks to H2 and will ensure the quality and safety of the fuel cell.
Translated automatically from German.
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