Renault and Plug Power – a fuel cell systems and hydrogen-related services provider – are to launch a joint venture with the aim of becoming the leader in hydrogen fuel cell technology for light commercial vehicles.

Based in France, the partnership will launch later this year and will serve the market for fuel cell light commercials, taxis and commercial passenger vehicles.

Luca de Meo, CEO of Renault, said: “This joint venture project is fully aligned with our strategy to offer market-ready hydrogen solutions for LCVs. Our objective is to become the European leader in fuel cell LCVs.”

This news followed the results of a recent survey amongst readers of MMM and its sister magazine, What Motorhome, in which over 60% believed it would be over a decade before they are driving an electric motorhome and over 35% said it would be over 15 years.

Perhaps, hydrogen fuel cells will offer a better solution in this market than battery electric vehicles with their current problems of weight and range.