Automaker Groupe Renault, and Plug Power Inc.  announced the signature of an MoU to launch a 50-50 joint-venture based in France by the end of the first half of 2021. This joint-venture platform will serve the fast-growing market of fuel cell light commercial vehicles (LCV), taxis, and commercial people transportation through the research and development (R&D), transformation, manufacturing and sale of fuel cell-powered vehicles and hydrogen turn-key solutions in the coming years.  

“This joint-venture project is fully aligned with our strategy to offer market ready H2 solutions for LCVs, said Renault CEO Luca de Meo. With Plug Power, we will build a unique end-to-end fuel cell value chain and offer turnkey solutions for customers including vehicles, refueling stations and decarbonized hydrogen delivery. With this project, our ambition is to position France as a bridgehead of industrial, technical and commercial development in this key technology, and to strengthen our leadership in Europe as our objective is to become the European leader in fuel cell LCV”. 

The company intends to offer differentiated products and solutions to the LCV market, designed around 3 key pillars: 

• R&D: Groupe Renault and Plug Power intend to establish an Innovation Center for the development of fuel cell technology and hydrogen fuel cell LCV vehicles based on existing and future Groupe Renault platforms. The initial focus will be on the heavy van segment utilizing the Traffic and Master vehicle platforms. This center will be unique in combining R&D efforts of fuel cell and vehicles with integrated engineering teams. 
• Manufacturing: the joint-venture will combine the vehicle manufacturing capabilities of Groupe Renault with the fuel cell and hydrogen system manufacturing knowledge of Plug Power, establishing a vertically integrated fuel cell stack and system manufacturing center in France for integration into LCV vehicle platforms. In addition, this manufacturing center will provide hydrogen refueling systems, a key part of the hydrogen ecosystem. 
• Sales: this partnership will create a hydrogen vehicle eco-system solution company that offers vehicles, hydrogen fueling stations, hydrogen fuel, and services to customers. This comprehensive solutions approach will accelerate adoption by commercial fleets. 

The JV will start commercializing fuel cell LCV’s in Europe starting in 2021 with pilot fleet deployments. 

Groupe Renault and Plug Power will provide the stand-alone joint-venture with the required resources to achieve its objectives. This  project supports the decarbonization of mobility in Europe with the adoption of clean energy solutions, and the creation of innovating value-generating activities in France.