Good heavens, what’s this nonsense now? For years, we’ve been told that hydrogen was to be the holy grail of the automotive industry. Clean energy, nothing but water vapor as emissions, and a fill-up in mere minutes. Sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? Well, apparently, it’s a dream that Stellantis, the automotive giant behind brands like Peugeot, Citroën, and Opel, would rather toss in the bin. And honestly, who can blame them? The hydrogen revolution feels more like a damp squib than a world-changing breakthrough.
Let’s rewind a bit. Stellantis was once one of hydrogen’s biggest cheerleaders. They poured buckets of cash into fuel cell technology, with plans to transform their Pro One vans—think Opel Vivaro and Peugeot Expert—into hydrogen-guzzling workhorses. Production was set to kick off this summer in factories in France and Poland. They even had a few test models cruising around, boasting a 400-kilometer range and a refueling time of three minutes. Sounds impressive, right? But now, in a turn sharper than a Jeep on a muddy hill, they’ve decided to scrap the whole thing. Why? Because hydrogen, to put it bluntly, is a commercial disaster.
Stellantis’ Europe boss, Jean-Philippe Imparato, lays it out in words as sharp as a dull knife: “The hydrogen market remains a niche segment, with no prospects for economic viability in the medium term.” Translation: it’s too expensive, there are too few fueling stations, and nobody’s buying the stuff. And let’s be honest, he’s got a point. Across all of Europe, there are fewer than twenty public hydrogen stations. Twenty! You’re more likely to spot a unicorn than find a place to fill up your hydrogen van. And if you do find a station, you’ll pay through the nose for a technology that’s still in its infancy.
But it’s not just about the infrastructure—or rather, the lack thereof. Hydrogen cars are also outrageously expensive to build. The fuel cells, the tanks, the whole shebang—it costs a fortune to develop and produce. And we haven’t even mentioned the consumer, who gets zero subsidies to buy one of these things. Compare that to electric cars, which are subsidized in many countries and have a charging infrastructure growing faster than weeds in an unkempt garden. No wonder Stellantis is betting its money on batteries.
And they’re not the only ones throwing in the towel. Renault ditched their hydrogen plans earlier this year when their partnership with Plug Power imploded. Even Hype, a company running a fleet of hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirais in Paris, has announced it’s switching to—you guessed it—electric vehicles. It seems hydrogen is only backed by a few diehard believers like Toyota, Hyundai, and BMW, who are clinging to their hydrogen dreams. But let’s be real, even their faith is starting to wobble like a drunken sailor on a stormy sea.
Now, before you think Stellantis is just muddling along, they’ve got a plan. The money and brainpower once poured into hydrogen are now being redirected to electric and hybrid vehicles. Smart move, considering the EU is waving CO2 fines like an overzealous parking warden. Stellantis aims to have a quarter of their sales come from electric cars by 2025, partly thanks to their partnership with Chinese automaker Leapmotor. With sales dropping 12% in 2024 and profits plummeting by 70%, they can’t afford any missteps. It’s a brutal world out there, and Stellantis isn’t playing Monopoly with fake money.
But let’s pause for a moment on the irony. While Stellantis is ditching hydrogen, they’ve filed a patent for an exhaust system on their electric cars. Yes, you read that right. An exhaust! Not to make it roar like a muscle car, but to vent toxic gases in case of a battery fire. It’s a bit like fitting a fire extinguisher to a bicycle—you hope you’ll never need it, but it’s nice to know it’s there. This kind of creative thinking shows Stellantis isn’t just following the herd, even if they take the odd weird detour.
So, what does this all mean? Hydrogen may not be dead, but it’s in a deep coma. The technology has potential, but as long as there are no fueling stations, costs remain sky-high, and subsidies are nowhere to be found, it’s about as practical as a chocolate teapot. Stellantis has chosen the path of least resistance: electric driving. And honestly, who can fault them? The future might not be as fizzy as a hydrogen explosion, but it’s a darn sight more realistic.
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