(Boulogne-Billancourt / France) – The Renault Group and Plug Power Inc., US provider of hydrogen and fuel cells, have founded the “Hyvia” joint venture, which was announced in January. The name is made up of “Hy” for hydrogen and the Latin word “via” for road, explain the companies that have equal shares in the new company.
The aim is to “further develop low-carbon mobility” and bring hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles onto the market. The joint venture integrates the required hydrogen chain from the vehicle through the infrastructure to turnkey services for customers.
The headquarters and the research and development teams will be located in the municipality of Villiers-Saint-Frédéric, which has around 3.000 inhabitants and is approximately 30 kilometers west of Versaille. The development center for light commercial vehicles and a Renault Group vehicle parts factory are already located there. 
In this way, synergies between the teams are to be maximized. The process, manufacturing and logistics teams will be located a little further north in Flins. The first vehicles based on the Renault “Master” will then be assembled at the Batilly plant not far from Metz. The integration of the fuel cell is carried out by PVI, a subsidiary of the Renault Group since 2017, in Gretz-Armainvilliers near Paris.
Three vehicle models by the end of 2021
The first three vehicles that Hyvia is launching are expected to be available in Europe this year. The models include a delivery van (van), a larger version with a driver's cab for freight transport and a city bus for passenger transport.
“With Hyvia we are bringing hydrogen mobility to France and Europe,” says Plug Power CEO Andrew Marsh with conviction. The company wants to achieve a 2030 percent market share for hydrogen-powered light commercial vehicles in Europe by 30, said Hyvia's new managing director David Holderbach, who previously worked at Renault. The project is accompanied by the establishment of charging stations and the supply of green hydrogen.
Plug Power has installed more than 40.000 fuel cell systems, developed and built 110 filling stations that dispense more than 40 tons of hydrogen every day. The company has been present in Europe for more than ten years and has installed several electrolyzers with PEM technology in Germany, France, the Netherlands and Portugal.
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The first hydrogen-powered Hyvia vehicles are expected to be on the market by the end of this year. / © Renault
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Planned locations of Hyvia productions / © Renault
