With the IndiGo, the company Innervated Vehicle Engineering (IVE) is developing a small van that is powered by a fuel cell.
In addition to battery-electric drives, fuel cell technology will probably also become an alternative to driving commercial vehicles. The advantages for fleet operators lie in the often clearly defined driving profile for goods transport and deliveries on the first and last mile. With a hydrogen filling station in your own depot or along the route, the currently insufficient public infrastructure is not a problem.
The Stellantis Group is currently putting the first fuel cell vans on the road in cooperation with customers for field tests, and there is one from competitor Renault converted master with hydrogen tanks.
The British company Innervated Vehicle Engineering (IVE) is also developing a small van with a fuel cell electric drive. Depending on the load, the IndiGo should be able to drive between 660 and 900 kilometers on a single tank of fuel before the 13.5 kg of hydrogen (in three 4.5 kg tanks) are used up. The planned payload is given as 1.5 tons. Then IVE can comply with a permissible total weight of 3.5 tons. In Great Britain, where you can drive electric vehicles with a car driver's license up to a weight of 4.25 tons, the IndiGo should shoulder up to 2 tons.
In production from 2024
In addition to the drive, the engineers' specifications also include a vehicle design designed for sustainability. It begins with a production facility designed to use as little energy as possible in the Mira Technology Park east of the British city of Birmingham. In addition, CKD assemblies (completely knocked down) are possible in sales markets.
A body structure that dispenses with metal should save large sheet metal presses. IVE specifies the service life of the IndiGo in delivery use as 15 years, which is said to outperform many current diesel vans. A replacement purchase that is prevented in this way also has a positive effect on the environment. But it will be a while before the IndiGo hits the road. According to the company, the first customers can pre-order their vehicle from the end of 2023, and production is scheduled to start in 2024.
Conclusion
The IndiGo, developed by the company IVE, is an electrically powered transporter with a fuel cell. It is scheduled to be built in the UK from 2024.
