Faurecia is creating a global centre of expertise for hydrogen storage systems at its R&D facility in Bavans, France.
Faurecia is working on research and development in new-generation high-pressure tanks, which are more efficient and lighter, as well as in a test centre to characterise the tanks.
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The centre, scheduled to start operations in the second-quarter of 2020, represents a total investment of around EUR25m (US$28m), including EUR4.9m in subsidies from the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region.
In the long term, Faurecia plans to create 50 jobs at the Bavans site, which already has nearly 750 employees working in Faurecia’s Clean Mobility field.
“The creation of our hydrogen tank centre of expertise in France is a step forward in Faurecia’s strategy to become a global leader in fuel cell systems,” said Faurecia Clean Mobility EVP, Christophe Schmitt.
“Adapted to commercial and heavy goods vehicles, this technology will play an important role in zero emission mobility.”
For her part, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region president, Marie-Guite Dufay added: “Hydrogen is a long-standing, mature and recognised sector in the region.
“It has a robust ecosystem, with large industrial groups, structuring facilities, pioneering territories and projects of an extremely large scale. The implementation of a global centre for hydrogen storage systems in Bavans is excellent news and will further strengthen the development of this industry in the region.
“We have a major ambition with the hydrogen sector: to become a leading region in France and Europe.”
