The H2 power business of OPmobility (formerly known as Plastic Omnium) has received a “significant order in the United States” from a premium manufacturer for hydrogen fuel tanks. All we know so far is that this is for SUVs, and that the manufacturer is European.

This information can be found in the presentation of the first quarter results. However, the identity of the customer is not yet revealed. At this stage, the obvious answer is BMW, with its first production model to be powered by a fuel cell. A plausible theory, given that the X5 is produced at the Spartanburg plant in South Carolina. In fact, this is yet another order for the French equipment manufacturer, which has already received a $2 billion order from “a major American car manufacturer”.

For this major customer, OPmobility will be setting up the largest hydrogen storage plant in the US in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan. The plant will supply high-pressure hydrogen tanks for zero-emission mobility in heavy-duty and commercial vehicles. In addition, a cutting-edge validation and prototyping laboratory will be commissioned to guarantee product safety and meet customer needs. The future plant, which will cover an area of 20,000 square metres and have an annual production capacity of 100,000 tanks, will come into service at the end of 2026.

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Article written by Laurent Meillaud and translated by Mariem Ben Tili