For those who’re excited about various fuels and like the inner combustion engine (ICE) that comes with a hydrogen-powered automobile over their electrical automobile (EV) counterpart, you is perhaps questioning whether or not you should purchase a hydrogen-fuelled automobile within the UK.
On this weblog, we clarify in case you can, plus the whole lot else that you must find out about hydrogen-powered automobiles.
What’s a hydrogen automobile?
A hydrogen automobile is one which’s powered by hydrogen as a substitute of petrol, diesel or electrical energy.
There are two predominant sorts: a purely H2-fuelled automobile and a hydrogen gas cell electrical automobile (FCEV). Whereas the previous runs solely on hydrogen, so retains the familiarity of an ICE automobile, the latter powers an electrical motor utilizing hydrogen.
Fortunately even with the FCEV, you don’t must cost the battery as you’ll with an EV, permitting you to nonetheless profit from the sooner refuelling occasions that hydrogen vehicles supply.
That being stated, one of these hydrogen automobile doesn’t retain the identical acquainted noise as petrol or diesel vehicles, so if that’s an essential a part of the ICE automobile expertise, we might counsel you go for a automobile that’s solely powered by hydrogen.
Are there any hydrogen vehicles accessible within the UK?
There are at the moment two hydrogen-powered vehicles accessible within the UK: the Toyota Mirai and the Hyundai Nexo SUV.
Toyota Mirai
Key specs at a look (second era Mirai)
- Driving vary: Greater than 400 miles (WLTP estimate)
- Class: Mid-size luxurious automobile
- Physique model: 4-door sedan
- Prime velocity: 111mph
- Kind: Hydrogen gas cell electrical automobile (FCEV)
- Battery: 1.2kWh lithium-ion
- Euro NCAP security score: 5/5
We had the chance to get up close and personal with the Toyota Mirai a few years in the past and must say we loved the expertise lots. The automobile was comfy, luxurious, quiet, and glossy – all of the issues you can ask for from one of many first hydrogen-fuelled automobiles to the touch UK soil.
The Mirai is an FCEV, however it’s nonetheless an amazing selection in case you’re pondering of creating the swap quickly.
Hyundai Nexo SUV
Key specs at a look
- Driving vary: 414 miles (WLTP estimate)
- Class: Compact crossover SUV
- Physique model: 5-door SUV
- Prime velocity: 111.2mph
- Kind: Hydrogen gas cell automobile (FCEV)
- Euro NCAP security score: 5/5
For those who’re searching for a hydrogen automobile with extra space, Hyundai’s Nexo is a superb selection. The automobile has all of the bells and whistles you’ll count on from a contemporary luxurious automobile, full with an infotainment system, seats that may be heated or ventilated, a sunroof, and extra.
The automobile takes about 5 minutes to refuel, which is way extra corresponding to a petroleum or diesel automobile than the lengthy recharge occasions provided by EVs.
Are extra hydrogen vehicles coming to the UK?
Sure, quite a few automobile producers have began to develop hydrogen automobiles.
Toyota, for example, has created a prototype for one more hydrogen automobile, the Hilux pick-up truck, which has been developed within the UK with the assistance of presidency funding.
The corporate has additionally developed the GR Yaris H2, an experimental automobile that’s powered solely by hydrogen so retains its inside combustion engine.
The vehicle was driven at Goodwood Festival of Speed by Rowan Atkinson to showcase how motorsport may use hydrogen to maintain the identical sound and really feel as their petrol alternate options.
Elsewhere, BMW has produced the iX5 Hydrogen – based mostly on the X5 – which is at the moment being trialled all over the world.
Hyundai has additionally created a show-stopping idea automobile, the N Vision 74, partly impressed by the Hyundai Pony Coupe Concept from 1974. Manufacturing for the automobile will start in 2026.
Numerous hydrogen-dedicated producers have began growing H2 automobiles as nicely, with Riversimple being one in all them.
The corporate, which was created by former motorsport engineer and racing driver Hugo Spowers, relies in Llandrindod Wells, Wales and has created the Rasa. This can be a working prototype and will likely be trialed for a yr in Monmouthshire.
What concerning the infrastructure for hydrogen vehicles?
There are at the moment 16 hydrogen refuelling stations (HRS) throughout the nation, six of that are open to the general public.
While this can be a far cry from the tons of of EV fashions within the nation and the over 30,000 EV charging stations accessible, we’re quietly optimistic that this can change within the coming years – extra on that subsequent.
The HRS open to the general public are:
- Aberdeen Metropolis Hydrogen Vitality Storage (Aberdeen)
- Kittybrewster Hydrogen Station (Aberdeen)
- Tyseley Vitality Park (Birmingham)
- Hatton Cross (London)
- M1 Rotherham within the Superior Manufacturing Park (Rotherham, Sheffield)
- Honda Manufacturing Station (Swindon)
For those who dwell in or round Swindon, Birmingham, Sheffield, London or Aberdeen, an H2 automobile may already be a viable possibility for you. In fact, this can rely on how and the place you employ your automobile – in case you journey lengthy distances to areas that aren’t at the moment lined by public refuelling stations, it is perhaps finest to attend till the infrastructure improves.
Is there nonetheless hope for hydrogen vehicles within the UK?
We expect so.
In some ways, the hydrogen trade remains to be in its infancy.
In the meanwhile, hydrogen is dealing with a chicken-and-egg state of affairs the place the infrastructure must be in place earlier than extra producers have the arrogance to begin producing or importing hydrogen-fuelled vehicles to the UK. Likewise, most people must really feel like they’ll belief that they’ll have the ability to refuel when essential throughout their travels.
We expect that, earlier than these alternatively fuelled vehicles grow to be extra frequent, hydrogen will first be used for industrial automobiles and this can assist pave the way in which for hydrogen vehicles to return to market.
It’s because many freight drivers cannot rely on EVs, particularly as they often make longer journeys and are below time constraints that don’t combine nicely with the lengthy charging occasions that include utilizing an electrical automobile.
We’re beginning to see the federal government’s plans come to fruition
Again in 2013, the UK authorities predicted that “over one and a half million hydrogen-powered vehicles could possibly be on UK roads by 2030”. While this deadline appears unlikely contemplating solely 300 hydrogen-powered automobiles are at the moment on UK roads (together with H2 buses), we do now appear to be within the early levels of their plans.
It’s because they’ve earmarked seven projects that put money into hydrogen energy. These inexperienced hydrogen initiatives will first serve companies throughout the automotive and pharmaceutical sectors – in addition to in different industries – to assist decarbonise their operations.
With these initiatives, inexperienced hydrogen will play an even bigger position within the UK’s vitality infrastructure. Any extra hydrogen created from these initiatives could possibly be used to create extra fuelling stations for H2 vehicles, offering the general public and producers with the arrogance they should put money into H2 automobiles.
The federal government additionally predicted that “a co-ordinated community of hydrogen refuelling stations will have to be established, focusing at first on nationwide trunk routes and closely populated areas”. We’re already beginning to see these plans come to fruition, with refuelling stations planned for essential trunk roads alongside the A1(M) and M6 motorways.
Hydrogen vehicles could possibly be the reply for motor fanatics
For those who’re a automobile fanatic, you is perhaps bemoaning the recognition of EVs as a result of they don’t sound like what you’re used to listening to with a petroleum or diesel engine. In such instances, hydrogen is the candy spot: emission-free and accessible with an inside combustion engine so it retains the sound and really feel of a conventional automobile.
Though with the ability to drive a hydrogen automobile with out vary nervousness remains to be few years off, we’re satisfied that the event of the hydrogen infrastructure will velocity up within the months and years forward.
There are already talks of hydrogen being utilized in motorsport because the quick refuelling occasions and conventional automobile sound make a compelling case. A hydrogen class is about to be introduced to Le Mans in 2027, and Toyota’s GR H2 could possibly be one of many race automobiles because the idea automobile has been created particularly for motorsport.
What about insuring a hydrogen-powered automobile?
There aren’t many insurance coverage firms that at the moment present hydrogen car insurance, however you’ll be happy to know we’re one of many only a few brokers that may cowl these zero-emission automobiles.
For those who’re able to make the leap and get both the Mirai, the Nexo SUV, or one other hydrogen vehicle imported from overseas, we will help you get the proper cowl to your distinctive automobile.
Name us for a quote on 0800 369 8590 or book a callback at a time that fits you.
