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Vauxhall Movano HYDROGEN: Spec options and pricing revealed

December 17, 2024
By Matt Lister, Editor
Vauxhall Movano HYDROGEN LCV Van Pricing Specs Announced - Driving Hydrogen December 2024
Vauxhall Movano HYDROGEN LCV van pricing and specs announced. (Image: Vauxhall/Stellantis)

If there’s one thing fleet managers hate more than rising fuel costs, it’s downtime. And they needn’t worry – because there’s a new hydrogen LCV on the way from Stellantis.

The new Movano HYDROGEN is gearing up for a spring 2025 launch and Vauxhall have just released the pricing and spec options.

It’s a full-fat workhorse packing a punchy powertrain, solid range, and the kind of speedy refuel time that’ll have you back on the road faster than you can order a bacon and egg McMuffin.

What’s the big deal about hydrogen?

Most zero-emission chatter today revolves around battery packs, but hydrogen is confidently knocking on the back door.

Vauxhall’s hydrogen Movano claims a WLTP range of up to 311 miles, which means those lengthy motorway slogs won’t be peppered with anxious glances at a dwindling battery gauge.

Even better, refuelling this thing takes less than five minutes – about as long as it takes to fill up with diesel, but without any of the CO2.

And that’s good news because it means less tax, happy polar bears and free ULEZ.

Of course, that’s if you can find a hydrogen station, which remain few and far between, but that’s a challenge the industry is working to resolve.

Hydrogen fuel cell under the bonnet

Under the bonnet, you’ll find a 110kW (150PS) electric motor serving up 410Nm of torque – translation: it’s got plenty of shove off the line.

Feeding it with electricity is a 45kW ‘Proton Exchange Membrane’ (PEM) hydrogen fuel cell and a quartet of high-pressure hydrogen tanks storing 7kg of hydrogen at 700 bar.

If that’s all Greek to you, just know it means a brisk getaway and no-compromise daily usability.

There’s also an 11kWh plug-in battery tucked away to smooth out power delivery, store recuperated energy, and let you nab an extra top-up from the mains in about 90 minutes via 11kW AC.

It’s early days so some figures – payload, towing capacity – remain under wraps. We’ll have to see if the performance spec lives up to the hype when those details drop.

Specs and options

Vauxhall’s Movano will only come in the standard poverty spec ‘Prime’ trim. But whilst you’ll still have a dashboard full of blanks, the Movano will still come well equipped with some nifty tech on board.

There’s a 10-inch touchscreen with TomTom® sat-nav, Apple CarPlay®, Android Auto™, plus a digital instrument cluster that makes you feel like you’re piloting something a bit more luxurious than your average load-lugger.

Keyless go, automatic air-con, rear parking sensors, and heated, electrically adjustable door mirrors all make daily life easier.

Six-way adjustable driver’s seat? Check. A dual-passenger bench? Sure thing. Cupholders and a spot for your phone? Obviously. It’s a practical workhorse with everything you need, and nothing you don’t.

The prices and spec choices

Orders open in spring 2025 and you’ll have two sizes to pick from: the L3 H2 (medium wheel-base, medium roof) and the L4 H3 (long wheel-base, high roof).

The cheapest L3 H2 version starts at £66,450 on-the-road (before VAT and including the Plug-in Van Grant), while the bigger L4 H3 rings in at £68,070.

While it’s not chump change, compare that to the operational headaches of running a diesel fleet through an ever-tightening emissions net, and it starts looking pretty appealing.

Real-world testing already underway

This isn’t Vauxhall’s first rodeo with hydrogen, with trials of the smaller sister Vivaro HYDROGEN already on the go, giving some of the UK’s largest fleets a taste of what H2 power can do.

According to internal sources at Vauxhall, the feedback from these trials has been very positive and is helping refine the Movano HYDROGEN before it hits the market. By the time deliveries start, it’ll be battle-tested and ready for action.

Verdict

The Vauxhall Movano HYDROGEN makes the case for hydrogen stronger than ever. Longer range than a pure EV van, fast refuelling to keep you earning money on the road, and enough bells and whistles to keep drivers happy and productive.

It’s practical and doesn’t ask you to sacrifice capability on the altar of clean energy.

Of course, the long-term viability still hinges on hydrogen costs and network expansion, but for now, the Movano HYDROGEN stands out as a compelling alternative.

If you’ve been eyeing hydrogen as the next big thing – or if you’re just sick of staring at a charging cable and tapping your watch – the Movano HYDROGEN might be just the machine for you.