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Vauxhall's Movano offers the widest choice of powertrains in the large van segment, with the most unusual of the bunch being this hydrogen-powered model. You'll need easy access to fuelling to consider it but if you have that, it's worth a look.
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Background
The motor industry has long had a more environmentally friendly fuelling alternative to electric power - hydrogen; it hasn't followed it. But that doesn't mean you can't. And if you're running a fleet of vans, especially large heavy ones, the environmental difference you could make by switching to hydrogen is significant. Vauxhall thinks that there are enough business people thinking like this to make it worth launching this model, the hydrogen-fuelled version of its largest LCV, the Movano.
Vauxhall parent company Stellantis has been working on hydrogen powertrains for 20 years and Vauxhall's sister brand Opel has been selling a hydrogen version of the mid-sized Vivaro in Europe for some time; that was the first commercially available production hydrogen van. Encouraged by the take-up, in early 2024 Vauxhall began Vivaro Hydrogen customer trials in the UK, leading to the launch of this Movano Hydrogen in late 2024.
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Range data
| Min | Max |
| Payload Capacity (l) | 1315 | 1370 |
Driving experience
Equipped with an electric motor producing maximum power of 150PS and 410Nm of torque, the Movano Hydrogen aims to offer smooth and efficient performance. The Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell, rated at 45kW maximum power, is paired with four high-pressure cylindrical hydrogen tanks capable of storing 7kg of hydrogen at 700 bar operating pressure. With a range of 311 miles (WLTP), the Movano Hydrogen goes further without stopping than the Movano Electric (which manages up to 260 miles between charges from its 110kWh battery).
It's a heavy old powertrain - but then, so is that of the EV. And that weight doesn't matter so much in a large van; in fact, it rather helps to settle it when unladen. As usual with this Vauxhall, the electric power steering automatically adjusts the assistance to the speed of the vehicle. This increases driving comfort at higher speeds and makes manoeuvring in the city more comfortable. As with any ordinary Movano, this one can be had with the usual camera safety features. And an optional 'City Plus Pack' adds Blind spot assist and rear cross path detection.
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Design and build
Apart from the badgework, there are no external giveaways to this Movano's hydrogen-fuelled status. This large LCV got a fairly significant makeover in late 2023 with a new grille and bumpers introduced as part of this update. The headlamps were restyled too and can optionally feature LED beams.
Inside, the dash has been redesigned around modern-era central infotainment screens that can be up to 10 inches in size. Compatible smartphones connect wirelessly to the infotainment system via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Navigation is possible using TomTom navigation maps in 3D. The most important functions can be controlled via natural speech recognition. Particularly practical for delivery services and professionals who often have to use a mobile phone at work is a shelf in the centre console for charging smartphones inductively. There's a digital instrument display too which is configurable and can show 3D mapping.
The optional 'Eat & Work' bench-seat turns the cockpit into an ergonomic control centre. In just a few simple steps, the seat next to the driver can be transformed into a movable, practical work surface, for example for a laptop, turning the Movano into a mobile office. Alternatively, the seat can be converted into a small table with a cup holder - ideal when the time comes for a short break. And with the keyless locking and starting system, the driver no longer even needs to take the key out of his pocket to open, start or lock the vehicle.
As you'd expect, this Movano features a dual passenger seat. And up to ten in-cab storage areas are available, including the glovebox, a dash-mounted document clip and various open or lidded compartments on the dashboard. In addition, there are large door pockets, storage space beneath the passenger seat and a sizeable 22-litre overhead storage compartment.
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Market and model
Vauxhall wants from just over £66,000 for this Movano Hydrogen, ex VAT and after deduction of the available Plug-in Van Grant (this Movano Hydrogen is classified as 'electric', even though you can't plug it in). That base price is for the standard L3 H2 body shape. The alternative bigger L4 H3 body shape costs around £68,000 ex VAT after grant deduction. As usual with this current Movano, there's only one trim level available - 'Prime'. There's a huge premium to buy into Hydrogen power - around £18,000 over the cost of the Electric model and nearly £30,000 over the cost of the diesel version.
'Prime' spec includes a multimedia navigation system featuring a 10-inch touchscreen with an integrated TomTom satellite navigation system, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, an AM/FM/DAB digital radio, Bluetooth connectivity and two USB connections. Drivers can also operate the infotainment system via natural voice control for added convenience. A seven-inch digital instrument cluster provides clear and essential driving information at a glance. Also included are rear parking sensors, keyless entry, automatic air conditioning, an electric parking brake and twin-lens door mirrors with electrically adjustable and heated upper mirrors, plus a six-way adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support and an armrest.
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Practicalities and costs
There aren't really many practicality downsides to choosing hydrogen for your Movano. Yes, the payload's slightly reduced, but not much. In the base L3 H3 version, it's rated at 1,370kg (compare against 1,435kg for the equivalent Electric version and 1,400kg for the equivalent diesel). The Movano Hydrogen L4 H3 (that being the only other body style on offer) has a 1,315kg payload. Unlike with the commoner powertrains, there are no L1 or L2 body length or H1 or H2 roof heights.
Carriage capacity's unchanged over the diesel and EV variants. In the L3 H3 configuration, the Movano has a load deck length of 3705mm and an internal load height of 1932mm, which gives a 13m3 capacity. The L4H3 model has a load deck length of 4070mm and a 17.0m3 capacity.
Refuelling this hydrogen LCV takes only around 5 minutes. As we said in our 'Driving' section, finding a hydrogen filling station could be difficult. The last time we looked, there were just 12 of these on the UK mainland. To be specific, five around London, two around Swindon and one near Gatwick. North of Luton, there are just three (yes three) locations to replenish this Vauxhall with hydrogen - in Birmingham, Sheffield and Aberdeen (which has a couple of stations). Another lies on Orkney, of all places, which won't be much help unless you're planning to emigrate there as a monk with your Movano.
On top of all that, there's the danger of arriving at one of these hydrogen refuelling stations to find the pump broken - or out of gas. Or maybe because there are so few pumps available, there'll be a queue for it, which if two or three FCEVs were in front of you would require a 10-15 minute wait. A useful website - ukh2mobility.co.uk - can help you to find stations and a useful app called H2.Live enables you to get live updates on when they're open or closed. Even with all of that forward planning, it's easy to get into a panic situation if you finally arrive at a long-promised station with just 30 or so miles of range and find yourself faced with an availability problem, so we'd suggest you refuel the vehicle when the range gets down to around 100 miles or so - which of course shortens the operating distance even further.
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Summary
If things continue the way they are, by the end of this decade business people are going to be seriously looking at an environmentally friendly tax efficient way to fuel their LCV fleets that isn't electric. An electric van is seriously restricted by its needed charging regime. A hydrogen-fuelled van - still classified as an 'electric' vehicle for tax purposes remember - isn't. Yes, right at present, the lack of UK hydrogen filling stations is even more of a restriction, but over the next few years, that's expected to gradually change. Even now, if your company fleet has access to hydrogen fuelling, a van like this hydrogen Movano could be worth experimenting with.
Forward-thinking fleet managers will want to consider doing that. If more had done so when hydrogen vehicles were being trialled 30 years ago, the transport picture might look very different now. It's still not too late; but time is ticking.
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