Plastic Omnium to supply hydrogen storage systems to MPV Staria

Plastic Omnium (a French automotive supplier specialised in manufacturing and commercialising plastics) will supply hydrogen storage systems to Hyundai Motors new multi-purpose vehicle Staria.

The storage systems will be Type IV 700- bar High-Pressure Vessels (HPV) and developed at Plastic Omnium’s Gyeong-Ju plant in Korea. It is ascertained that Plastic Omnium will be responsible for supplying more than 30,000 units annually from 2023.

Plastic Omnium will also receive support from its teams in Europe and China to produce storage systems. It plans to expand the production line of hydrogen storage vessels through an investment of around € 30 million. The company will introduce a new production line using the investment to help supply storage vessels to Hyundai and support its development in the Korean hydrogen market.

The thin hydrogen storage system can be placed in the floor architecture of the vehicle, which will also facilitate the flexibility to either use battery or hydrogen storage modules in a single vehicle.

The contract between the two companies was signed during International Motor Show Germany (Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung), which is being held in Munich, Germany.

Christian Kopp, President and CEO of Plastic Omnium Clean Energy Systems, said: “We are proud that Hyundai has entrusted Plastic Omnium to support its commitment to zero-emission mobility. This major award underlines the Group’s technological leadership in hydrogen technologies, as well as its industrial capabilities to produce and deliver high-end Hydrogen vessels and systems worldwide.”