FUEL CELLS ONBOARD HYDROGEN STORAGE Threefold technological expertise Hydrogen-powered cars come with their own onboard power plants. The electric motor is powered by a hybrid system comprising a fuel cell and a small capacity auxiliary battery. Plastic Omnium provides a complete product line-up: high-pressure hydrogen tanks, fuel cells and integrated hydrogen systems. High-pressure hydrogen tanks Leveraging its long-standing know-how in plastic blowmolding, the first stage in producing hydrogen tanks, Plastic Omnium has now acquired complementary expertise in the carbon fiber filament winding techniques needed to manufacture high-pressure tanks. Plastic Omnium draws on this expertise, certified in Europe and internationally, to develop Type IV tanks, the lightest and safest of all. Fuel cells Using a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen in the air, fuel cells produce onboard electricity for vehicles. Working with EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies, jointly owned with ElringKlinger, Plastic Omnium has incorporated this technology into its product portfolio. EKPO offers a full range of fuel cells, with power levels from 10 kW to 205 kW for all forms of mobility. The EKPO plant at Dettingen in Germany is the largest fuel cell factory in Europe. Onboard hydrogen systems The complete system developed and produced by Plastic Omnium comprises the fuel cell and up to 160 separate components installed in a compact unit to handle thermal control, electronic management, compressed air, humidifier and voltage conversion. Growing industrial capacity As part of its drive to support the growth of hydrogen mobility, the Group is increasing its industrial capabilities in expanding markets. In Compiègne, France, it is in the process of building Europe’s largest hydrogen fuel tank factory, with an annual capacity of 80,000 units. It aims to set up production lines in China, and its lines in the US and South Korea are scheduled to start up in 2023 and 2025 respectively. Successes in all forms of mobility During 2022, Plastic Omnium won several contracts for the manufacture and supply of hydrogen tanks. It is a partner to Stellantis and Hyvia for commercial vehicles, to Safra for buses in France, to Hyliko for heavy trucks and to Alstom for regional trains in France and Italy. It also received an order for fuel cells for civil aviation from Aerostack GmbH, a joint venture between Airbus and ElringKlinger. 41
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