Two years after announcing the H2 Central Valley Express project, USA-based zero-emission hydrogen mobility firm Symbio has unveiled a hydrogen-fuelled, regional-haul Class 8 truck. It developed and integrated this innovative vehicle in-house and has equipped it with EV-specific tyres from co-shareholder Michelin that offer improved fuel economy and reduced wear.
Since establishing its new long-term sustainability policy in 2021, Sumitomo Rubber Group has piloted and demonstrated proof of concept for the use of hydrogen as a source of energy at its tyre factory in Shirakawa, Japan. Combined with power generated from solar photovoltaic panels installed in the plant’s carpark, Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) claims that the use of hydrogen has led to carbon neutrality (Scopes 1 and 2) for its production at Shirakawa, beginning in January 2023.
Symbio, Michelin’s equally owned joint venture with automotive supplier Forvia and vehicle manufacturer Stellantis, has inaugurated its SymphonHy facility today. Located in Saint-Fons, within the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France, the site houses Symbio’s headquarters, a production plant, an innovation hub and the Symbio Hydrogen Academy.
As part of efforts to diversify its activities, in 2021 Michelin launched Watèa by Michelin, a France-based business that helps fleets transition to electric mobility. Watèa is now extending its remit to fuel cell vehicles, and Michelin speaks of an ambition to “conquer hydrogen mobility.”
The sale of part of Michelin’s shareholding in the Symbio hydrogen mobility joint venture to Stellantis was completed on 27 July 2023, making Michelin, Forvia and Stellantis equal 33.33 per cent shareholders in the business. The transaction contributes 150 million euros to Michelin group’s cash.
Negotiations between Faurecia, Michelin, and Stellantis have resulted in the signing of a binding agreement covering Stellantis’s acquisition of a 33.3% stake in zero-emission hydrogen mobility firm Symbio. Both Faurecia and Michelin now hold a 33.3% share in Symbio as well. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2023.
While Tevva’s focus remains trained on building and delivering its battery-electric 7.5t vehicle, testing and development of its hydrogen-electric counterpart continues apace. Four Tevva engineers: Charlie Cordell, Byron Dolman, Ryan Clark and Toby Hurst were doing exactly that recently, with a ‘range test’ of Tevva’s dual-energy prototype truck. The exercise saw the foursome accumulate more than 1,000km (approximately 620 miles) in the 7.5t hydrogen-electric vehicle, driving between Tevva’s London HQ and the Scottish border at Berwick-on-Tweed – England’s most northernmost town.
Hopium, France’s first manufacturer of hydrogen-powered vehicles, is partnering with Bridgestone to develop tyres for its Hopium Machina saloon. Bridgestone will create the tyres using its proprietary Virtual Tyre Development technology, working to a remit of minimising rolling resistance in order to enhance the car’s 1,000-kilometre range.
This month, Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. (SRI) begins a proof-of-concept study to determine the viability of harnessing hydrogen energy for tyre manufacture. The study will take place at SRI’s plant in Shirakawa, Japan and is being supported by national research and development agency the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).
Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) is working to achieve carbon neutrality in its tyre manufacturing processes by 2050, and as part of these efforts recently began examining the possibility of utilising hydrogen energy within its major tyre factories in Japan. In order to “participate more actively in efforts to overcome the challenges involved in bringing about the hydrogen economy while also exchanging useful information with other companies and organisations,” SRI has joined the Japan Hydrogen Association.
Jaguar Land Rover CEO, Thierry Bolloré has announced that the Jaguar brand will be a 100 per cent electric vehicle marque by 2025. The announcement, which came as part of the company’s “reimagine” global announcement, also saw JLR initiate a journey to become a net zero carbon business by 2039. Specifically, Jaguar and Land Rover will offer pure electric power, nameplate by nameplate, by 2030. By this point, in addition to 100 per cent of Jaguar sales, it is anticipated that around 60 per cent of Land Rovers sold will be equipped with zero tailpipe powertrains. At the same, executives emphasised the company’s British identity and sought to differentiate between its Jaguar and Land Rover flag brands.
Mark Berry has joined the board of sustainable hydrogen company Powerhouse Energy Group as a non-executive director. A partner at Norton Rose Fulbright LLP. Berry specialises in financing energy, infrastructure and process engineering projects. He has particular expertise in the waste to energy (including materials recovery and fuel recovery from waste), transport and mining sectors.
France’s government has launched a national hydrogen strategy valued at seven billion euros, and aims to build up capacity for hydrogen from non-fossil sources by 2030. Michelin applauds this step and has reiterated its commitment to its own goals in this field. The company says its work here will mean a “significant share” of its business will be non-tyre related in a decade’s time. Fabio Ferrari, co-founder of Symbio, is tasked with leading the development of Michelin’s Hydrogen Mobility strategy and supporting its deployment.
Following the establishment of their hydrogen mobility joint venture in March 2019, Michelin and Faurecia have reported that they have formalized the establishment of “Symbio, A Faurecia Michelin Hydrogen Company”. According to the two companies “Symbio, A Faurecia Michelin Hydrogen Company” combines all their hydrogen fuel cell dedicated activities, with the aim of becoming a world leader in hydrogen mobility.
Hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric vehicles will travel nearly 6,000km across Europe to converge in Hamburg to celebrate the expanding network of refuelling stations. Thirteen vehicles starting in five countries (Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and Norway) will travel a combined 5,836km to reach the German city ahead of the Hydrogen for Clean Transport – H2ME Mid-Term Conference on 25th October. The journey will demonstrate the advantages of hydrogen mobility and motorway driving.
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Jaguar Land Rover
Powerhouse Energy Group