INEOS Grenadier to add hydrogen fuel cell tech

A rugged new British 4×4 called the INEOS Grenadier has been revealed – and it’s set to go electric.

What some are alreadying considering the spiritual replacement for the legendary Land Rover Defender could soon come with a hydrogen fuel cell as part of a radical plan for zero-emissions hard core off-roading.

In unveiling the INEOS Grenadier – the inaugural four-wheel drive wagon from a company best known for producing chemicals – executives revealed the engineering efforts currently underway to adopt FCEV technology.

“We are launching with the … diesel and petrol straight-six BMWs [engines],” says INEOS Automotive commercial director Mark Tennant.

Production of the Grenadier is planned for late 2021 and Australian deliveries are hoped to kick off in 2022.

Working hard

“For the working tool that this vehicle needs to be we just don’t think the technology or the infrastructure from an electric point of view can do the job,” he says.

The Grenadier is designed for serious off-roading. It is built on a ladder frame chassis, has live axles front and rear, towering ground clearance, a low-range transfer case and locking differentials front, rear and centre.

It also shares many styling cues with the iconic Defender that was discontinued in 2016

INEOS defends the obvious similarities, pointing to the design brief, which was to create an uncompromised off-roader.

“We wanted a wheel at each corner,” says Tennant, also explaining that the US Army’s technical brief for what became the original Jeep Willys was consulted in creating the Grenadier.

“Quite simply, you cross the same bridges and the same paths that others [manufacturers] have done before,” he says, referencing the Defender and Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen, the latter also sharing some design similarities with the Grenadier.

Grenadier looking to hydrogen

But it’s hydrogen where the Grenadier is heading.

“We’re not luddites, we’re not technology averse,” says Tennant of the fast-evolving vehicle market.

“We recognise that the time is coming when the illustrious internal combustion engine will be gone.

“We are looking at other technologies for the future, electric and actually hydrogen. Hydrogen fuel cell is something we’re actively engaged with.

“We’ve had a bit of support from the British government to do a bit of a feasibility study on a fuel cell electric vehicle in this sort of category and that’s where our parentage becomes quite interesting as well because INEOS is a petrochemicals business … hydrogen is a by-product of its processes.”

FCEV for durability and range

Tennant says as well as extreme off-road ability the INEOS Grenadier needs to be “hard wearing, bloody durable”.

But Tennant all but admits it’s inevitable diesel and unleaded will give way to electrons in the longer term.

And electric motors are seen as an ideal replacement.

INEOS Automotive CEO Dirk Heilmann reinforces the early explorative work being done on hydrogen fuel cell technology.

EV tech for next generation Grenadier

“When it comes to the next generation [Grenadier] we’re already looking at alternative propulsion,” says Heilmann.

“An electric motor is quite good, fitting for us because it is simple, it is reliable.”

But he says a pure battery electric vehicle (BEV) would not work because of the need for a long driving range and the weight of the batteries.

“It is a challenge for us because it goes into payload and once you go off-roading, add three-and-a-half tonnes on it, you don’t go that far!”

Heilmann believes a hydrogen fuel cell could be closer than some think.

“We need a different powertrain.

“The hydrogen fuel cell is something that as soon as it is mature enough so we can actually offer it in our scale and get the prices to a position that it’s fine – which I think will be quite soon – is a very good proposition for heavy duty vehicles … and also in a vehicle like the Grenadier.”

Fairytale conception

The Grenadier is the stuff of fairy tales. It was conceived in a pub on the back of a beer coaster.

And, yes, that pub was the Grenadier in England.

Along for the ales was INEOS chairman Sir Jim Ratcliff, a man who also loves his off-roading and didn’t like that the Defender was killed off.

“They were bemoaning the imminent demise of the old Land Rover Defender,” says INEOS Grenadier commercial director Mark Tennant.

The decision was quickly made to create an appropriate replacement, one that adhered to two simple mottos: “built on purpose” and “function over form”.

Comfortable interior

While the previous Defender – a car whose DNA flowed back to the original Land Rover of 1948 – was a basic machine with manual-only gearbox and rough-and-ready interior, the Grenadier is planning more luxury.

It’ll be offered only with an automatic transmission, for example, and will include many modern safety features.

And while the interior hasn’t been revealed yet, INEOS execs are adamant it will impress.

“Yes, we’re building a utility vehicle that primarily is a working tool, but who said it needs to be uncomfortable? It’s really crucial that in delivering something in the 2020s we’re not confined by some sort of hair-shirted, spartan view of the world set in the mid-20th century,” says Tennant.

“You’ve got to have a comfortable seat, you’ve got to have room for your elbows … you’ve got to have connectivity and screens.”

As well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto you can expect plenty of screens and USB plugs.

“The vehicle will be bang up to date in terms of relevant technology.”

Attainable, but not cheap

As for pricing, there’s no official word yet, but plenty of hints.

INEOS execs admit the Grenadier needs to be “attainable”, especially as it will be pitched at adventurers, enthusiasts and those looking for work vehicles. They’re the sorts of people happy to pay for quality but not prepared to splash a limitless budget.

At the same time, the company admits the BMW engines and ZF gearbox “doesn’t come cheap”.

Executives admit the Grenadier will be well below the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen but instead be much closer to the Toyota LandCruiser 70-Series.

They also say it’ll be “a bit above” the Ranger Raptor, which is $77,190 plus on-road costs.

So, our best guesses have it priced somewhere between $80,000 and $100,000.

Read more about the INEOS Grenadier at Motofomo.