Stellantis is discontinuing all its projects related to hydrogen technology. The parent company of brands such as Opel, Peugeot, Alfa Romeo, Jeep, and Fiat announced on Wednesday that it is also ending its production of hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles.
The car company is making this decision due to the limited availability of hydrogen refueling stations, the required high investments, and the lack of sufficient purchase subsidies for customers.
“The hydrogen market remains a niche segment, with no prospects for economic profitability in the medium term. We must make clear and responsible choices to ensure our competitiveness,” Stellantis said in a statement. According to the company, the change of course does not affect the workforce of its production locations.
Stellantis is also co-owner of Symbio, a producer of hydrogen fuel cell systems. It is now discussing with the other owners what the options are for the company.
Hydrogen cars have a fuel cell that converts hydrogen into electricity. Like electric cars, they do not emit CO2, but car manufacturers and governments generally prefer plug-in cars.
One of the main reasons is that the European charging station network is much more extensive than the network of hydrogen refueling stations. The Netherlands currently has fourteen refueling locations for hydrogen, and throughout Europe, there are a few hundred locations.