Ineos is considering launching a fully electric Grenadier. That’s what the top men of the company say† However, an electric Grenadier still has some snags.
The plans for the electric Grenadier already seem to be quite concrete internally. Commercial Director Mark Tennant says to Automotive News that the company wants to start testing with a fully electric prototype by the end of the year. Around that time, Ineos will also start testing the Grenadier with a fuel cell, which is now somewhat more concrete. Ineos sees more in the latter idea for the time being. “Currently, the batteries add a ton of weight,” said Tennant. “But battery technology is changing. We don’t know where the market is going.”
Dirk Heilman, CEO of Ineos Automotive, states that the fuel cell is currently a better fit for the Grenadier because of ‘the lower weight and the greater versatility’. According to him, the weight of the batteries means that you can take a less heavy load with you. “If you want to transport a lot of stuff, it’s a bit of a problem,” says Heilman. Nevertheless, he thinks there is a market for a fully electric Grenadier. “There are specialized applications where the range is not an issue, mining for example, but it is very specific.” He also adds that we should not expect the hydrogen-powered Grenadier until 2027.
Heilman goes on to say that Ineos is working on a short-wheelbase version of the Grenadier and hints that an electric powertrain for that variant may be an option. In a version with a short wheelbase, there is not enough space to accommodate the BMW powertrains, which Ineos currently uses. In any case, the company still has some time to think about it, because because Ineos still produces in a small volume, it does not have to meet the European CO2 standard of 95 grams per kilometer.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl