HYVIA, a joint venture between Renault and hydrogen solutions specialist Plug Power, developed the new van. It'll roll off the same Batilly assembly line as other Master models when production kicks off.
The Master H2-Tech will come in two versions. One has a 7.5 kg fuel tank, while the other packs a larger 9 kg tank good for up to 700 km of range. Renault says drivers can refuel in about 5 minutes, much quicker than charging an electric van.
Under the hood, the prototype combines a 20 kWh battery with a 47 kW fuel cell. Its electric motor puts out 105 kW (143 PS) and can push the van to a top speed of 120 km/h (75 mph).
For comparison, the all-electric Master E-Tech offers up to 460 km of range from its biggest 87 kWh battery pack.
While hydrogen tech sounds promising, the fueling infrastructure lags behind. There are only 921 hydrogen stations worldwide, with just 51 in France and 105 in Germany. That's a tiny number compared to gas stations.
Renault hasn't released pricing yet, but the hydrogen Master will likely cost more than its electric sibling. The current Master XDD diesel starts at €39,100, while the E-Tech electric version begins at €55,500.
Even so, Renault hopes the Master H2-Tech will appeal to businesses looking for a zero-emission van with quick refueling. We'll have to wait and see if hydrogen can catch on in the commercial vehicle world when the production model arrives in 2025.
Source: Renault