Symbio is a game-changer for fuel cell stack systems, having already equipped 30 vehicle fleets which have travelled a total of 3 million kilometers to date. In St Fons at the heart of the Hydrogen Valley in Lyon, construction is under way for the largest industrial facility dedicated to the production of fuel cell stacks in Europe. With solutions covering all the relevant hydrogen applications, Symbio equips vehicles for leading European OEMs. Bringing together the complementary strengths of Faurecia and Michelin, Symbio is well-positioned to become a catalyst for the large-scale adoption of hydrogen mobility.
Hydrogen mobility is a reality today, and we have already been awarded by three global carmakers (PSA, Renault and Hyundai) to equip commercial and heavy-duty vehicles with fuel cell systems. In a first milestone for the off-road segment, we have partnered with Gaussin to develop hydrogen storage systems adapted to their logistics and port vehicles.
Fuel cell systems are set to represent a market of almost €20 billion by 2030, and Faurecia aims to be a world leader with 20% market share.
Innovation, competitiveness and industrialization, the next challenges
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While we are on the way to the large-scale use of hydrogen in energy and mobility, certain obstacles remain. These include harmonizing the regulations governing hydrogen in different countries, accelerating green hydrogen production and lowering its costs, and ensuring reliable distribution networks.
Through innovation, technical optimization and scaling, the cost of fuel cell systems will continue to drop dramatically. Our objective is to divide the cost of hydrogen storage systems by four, and of stacks and other components by more than six by 2030.
At our global center of expertise dedicated to hydrogen storage systems in Bavans, France, unique in this sector, we’ve regrouped state-of-the-art equipment for R&D, industrial production, and safety tests under one roof. This allows us to develop new production processes and integrated technologies such as IoT sensors to lower costs, improve maintenance and durability, and accelerate industrialization. By using innovative materials and improving recyclability, we are also strengthening the circular economy and developing new after-sales business models.
The decade of hydrogen has begun. The commitment various governments, regional organizations, and industrial actors have made to invest in the hydrogen supply chain will prove invaluable to unlocking its potential and achieving objectives to control climate change. By continuing to invest in our fuel cell ecosystem and developing partnerships across the supply chain, our ambition is to become a world leader in a field that will revolutionize mobility.