PEUGEOT has proven off its newest eco-friendly creation within the type of the e-Knowledgeable Hydrogen van; a light-commercial car (LCV) designed to supply companies and fleet consumers the choice of inexperienced motoring throughout Europe, however not Australia.
Resulting from be launched in France and Germany later this yr, Peugeot Australia common supervisor Kate Gillis confirmed the e-Knowledgeable Hydrogen was not even into consideration for our market, nonetheless battery-electric (BEV) variations had been.
“While the e-Knowledgeable Hydrogen is just not at the moment obtainable or into consideration for Australia, electrical variants of Peugeot’s light-commercial autos are at the moment into consideration for native introduction,” she stated.
However, the e-Knowledgeable Hydrogen does at the least level to the longer term course of the model with hydrogen fuel-cell electrical (FCEV) powertrains set to function prominently not solely in Peugeot’s LCV portfolio, however the entirety of the Stellantis’ in response to chief engineering officer Harald Wester.
“As we glance additional into the longer term, hydrogen gas cells present – particularly for LCV – nice promise as the following degree of zero-emission propulsion know-how as they’ll fulfil buyer vary expectations mixed with towing and payload capability,” he stated.
“At Stellantis, we imagine that LCV zero-emission affords shall meet all buyer calls for and user-profiles, to make sure sustainable supply actions consistent with environmental stakes.”
The core of the e-Knowledgeable Hydrogen is its all-new “mid-power plug-in hydrogen fuel-cellelectric” system developed by Stellantis, primarily based round a hydrogen fuel-cell and a chargeable 10.5kWh lithium-ion battery.
Working just like a hybrid car, start-up and low velocity driving are taken care of completely by the battery pack and its adjoining electrical motor earlier than the fuel-cell takes over as the first energy supply as speeds construct.
When most energy is required (brisk accelerating, climbing or overtaking), the battery and fuel-cell are utilized in tandem with the previous being recharged by the electrical motor throughout braking or deceleration.
Peugeot says the e-Knowledgeable Hydrogen will cowl “over” 400km on the WLTP cycle and produce 100kW/260Nm when all stated and performed with two variations –Customary (4950mm) and Lengthy (5300mm) – to be supplied.
Each physique sorts boast a most payload of as much as 1100kg and a most towing capability of 1000kg with the lengthy variations providing as much as 6.1 cubic metres of cargo house.
Ms Gillis stated that whereas the e-Knowledgeable Hydrogen can be a non-starter for the model in Australia, the native arm’s electrification journey can be beginning later within the yr with the 3008 Hybrid4 and 508 Fastback Plug-in Hybrid earlier than launching devoted BEVs subsequent yr.
“Shifting into 2022, we can be introducing full battery-electric autos to the Australian market,” she stated.
The confirmed introduction of the 508 Fastback Plug-in Hybrid may in the end pave the way in which for a neighborhood launch of the flagship 508 Peugeot Sport Engineered given it too contains a hybrid drivetrain.
As reported by GoAutoin September, the 508 PSE develops a Stinger GT-baiting 268kW/520Nm and might launch from 0-100km/h in a claimed 5.2 seconds.
If pushed rigorously, Peugeot says its strongest mannequin thus far will emit simply 46g per 100km CO2 emission price, “the equal of two.03L/100km gas consumption” and canopy as much as 42km on electrical energy alone.
Peugeot Australia has bought 635 new autos to date this yr ending April, marking a 14 per cent enchancment on the 557 it bought over the identical interval final yr.
