The Government has announced the launch of a major new hydrogen fuel cell project, backed by the car industry, which aims to bring fuel cell vehicles onto UK roads by 2015.
The new £400million programme-UKH2Mobility-aims to evaluate the potential for hydrogen as a fuel for vehicles in the UK and develop an action plan for the anticipated arrival of the first models available to consumers within the next three to four years.
Together, the government and thirteen car and other companies-including Daimler, Nissan, Toyota, Vauxhall, BOC Group and Air Liquide-have signed a memorandum of understanding to achieve three key targets; firstly investigate emissions benefits of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCEVs), secondly review what is required to commercialise the technology and assess the need for refuelling infrastructure and finally identify what is required to drive the UK to the forefront of FCEV manufacturing.
Speaking at the launch of UKH2Mobility, Business Minister Mark Prisk said: “The UK is proving itself to be a key early market for ultra-low emission vehicles with growing numbers of electric and plug-in hybrids appearing on our roads. The Government is supporting this market by investing £400million to support the development, demonstration and deployment of these vehicles.
“This country has a number of world-class companies that are developing exciting technologies in both the hydrogen energy and automotive value chains and it is vitally important that we identify what is required to make these cars a realistic proposition for UK consumers.”
While at the event, Vauxhall took the chance to present its 4th generation hydrogen fuel cell vehicle “HydroGen4”. Vauxhall and its parent firm GM have been trialling a fleet of over 100 FCEVs in Europe and the US since 2008, with the vehicles having now collectively accrued around 2 million miles of real-world testing. The British-based firm expects to have its first FCEV ready for market introduction by 2016.
