Ineos Automotive has purchased Mercedes-Benz’s Hambach plant in Germany and plans to start manufacturing the Ineos Grenadier from late 2021. The same plant could roll out the Ineos Grenadier hydrogen (FCEV) variant in the future.
Image Source: cochespias.net
The Ineos Grenadier, the new body-on-frame Defender not coming from Land Rover, may get the Hyundai Nexo’s hydrogen fuel cell powertrain as the second step. Hyundai Motor Company and Ineos partnered for the production and supply of hydrogen as well as the sharing of the former’s fuel cell system last month.
The Ineos Grenadier 4×4 vehicle that looks heavily inspired by the classic Land Rover Defender will be tested with the Hyundai Nexo hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle’s powertrain. Ineos said that this move shows its efforts to diversify the off-roading SUV’s powertrain options at an early stage.
Ineos’ cooperation with Hyundai Motor Company to scale up the global hydrogen economy is in line with its recently launched business of developing and building clean hydrogen capacity across Europe. It already produces 300,000 tons of hydrogen annually as a by-product from its chemical production processes.
Inovyn, an Ineos Group subsidiary in the petrochemical industry, is currently the largest electrolysis operator in Europe. Thanks to its experience in the storage and handling of hydrogen and deep know-how in the critical technology that uses renewable energy to produce hydrogen, it is in a unique position in the hydrogen economy.
As part of its FCEV Vision 2030 long-term roadmap, Hyundai Motor Group, the parent company of Hyundai Motor Company, plans to increase annual hydrogen fuel cell system production to 700,000 units by the end of this decade. HMG sees its fuel-cell systems going into not only automobiles but also vessels, drones, rolling stocks and fork lifts. It expects demand from sectors other than transportation, such as power generation and storage systems.
Ineos Automotive, also a subsidiary of Ineos Group, plans to launch the Ineos Grenadier with a BMW Group-made 3.0-liter six-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines and a ZF-made 8-speed automatic transmission. It expects Ineos Grenadier deliveries to start in early 2022.