If you happen to’re thinking about different fuels and like the interior combustion engine (ICE) that comes with a hydrogen-powered automobile over their electrical car (EV) counterpart, you is perhaps questioning whether or not you should purchase a hydrogen-fuelled car within the UK.
On this weblog, we clarify when you can, plus all the pieces else it is advisable find out about hydrogen-powered autos.
What’s a hydrogen automobile?
A hydrogen automobile is one which’s powered by hydrogen as an alternative of petrol, diesel or electrical energy.
There are two primary sorts: a purely H2-fuelled car and a hydrogen gasoline cell electrical car (FCEV). Whereas the previous runs solely on hydrogen, so retains the familiarity of an ICE car, 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 quicker refuelling instances that hydrogen vehicles supply.
That being mentioned, any such hydrogen car doesn’t retain the identical acquainted noise as petrol or diesel vehicles, so if that’s an essential a part of the ICE car 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 technology Mirai)
- Driving vary: Greater than 400 miles (WLTP estimate)
- Class: Mid-size luxurious car
- Physique model: 4-door sedan
- High velocity: 111mph
- Kind: Hydrogen gasoline cell electrical car (FCEV)
- Battery: 1.2kWh lithium-ion
- Euro NCAP security ranking: 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 quite a bit. The automobile was comfy, luxurious, quiet, and smooth – all of the issues you possibly can ask for from one of many first hydrogen-fuelled autos to the touch UK soil.
The Mirai is an FCEV, but it surely’s nonetheless a fantastic alternative when you’re pondering of creating the change quickly.
Hyundai Nexo SUV
Key specs at a look
- Driving vary: 414 miles (WLTP estimate)
- Class: Compact crossover SUV
- Physique model: 5-door SUV
- High velocity: 111.2mph
- Kind: Hydrogen gasoline cell car (FCEV)
- Euro NCAP security ranking: 5/5
If you happen to’re on the lookout for a hydrogen car with extra space, Hyundai’s Nexo is a superb alternative. The car has all of the bells and whistles you’ll count on from a contemporary luxurious car, full with an infotainment system, seats that may be heated or ventilated, a sunroof, and extra.
The car takes about 5 minutes to refuel, which is way extra similar to a petroleum or diesel car than the lengthy recharge instances supplied by EVs.
Are extra hydrogen vehicles coming to the UK?
Sure, a lot of automobile producers have began to develop hydrogen autos.
Toyota, as an illustration, has created a prototype for an additional hydrogen car, 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 car 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 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 car will start in 2026.
Numerous hydrogen-dedicated producers have began growing H2 autos as properly, with Riversimple being one in all them.
The corporate, which was created by former motorsport engineer and racing driver Hugo Spowers, is predicated in Llandrindod Wells, Wales and has created the Rasa. It is a working prototype and shall be trialed for a 12 months in Monmouthshire.
What in regards to 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 a whole lot of EV fashions within the nation and the over 30,000 EV charging stations accessible, we’re quietly optimistic that this may 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)
If you happen to dwell in or round Swindon, Birmingham, Sheffield, London or Aberdeen, an H2 automobile may already be a viable possibility for you. After all, this may rely on how and the place you utilize your car – when you journey lengthy distances to areas that aren’t at the moment lined by public refuelling stations, it is perhaps greatest to attend till the infrastructure improves.
Is there nonetheless hope for hydrogen vehicles within the UK?
We expect so.
In some ways, the hydrogen business continues to be in its infancy.
In the intervening time, hydrogen is dealing with a chicken-and-egg scenario 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 of the people must really feel like they will belief that they’ll be capable of refuel when crucial throughout their travels.
We expect that, earlier than these alternatively fuelled vehicles develop into extra widespread, hydrogen will first be used for business autos and this may assist pave the best way for hydrogen vehicles to return to market.
It is because many freight drivers cannot rely on EVs, particularly as they typically make longer journeys and are beneath time constraints that don’t combine properly with the lengthy charging instances that include utilizing an electrical car.
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 may very well be on UK roads by 2030”. While this deadline appears unlikely contemplating solely 300 hydrogen-powered autos 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 is because they’ve earmarked seven projects that put money into hydrogen energy. These inexperienced hydrogen tasks will first serve companies throughout the automotive and pharmaceutical sectors – in addition to in different industries – to assist decarbonise their operations.
With these tasks, inexperienced hydrogen will play an even bigger function within the UK’s power infrastructure. Any extra hydrogen created from these tasks may very well 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 autos.
The federal government additionally predicted that “a co-ordinated community of hydrogen refuelling stations will must 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 may very well be the reply for motor fanatics
If you happen to’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 car.
Though having the ability to drive a hydrogen automobile with out vary anxiousness continues 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 instances and conventional car sound make a compelling case. A hydrogen class is about to be introduced to Le Mans in 2027, and Toyota’s GR H2 may very well be one of many race autos because the idea automobile has been created particularly for motorsport.
What about insuring a hydrogen-powered automobile?
There aren’t many insurance coverage corporations 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 autos.
If you happen to’re able to make the leap and get both the Mirai, the Nexo SUV, or one other hydrogen vehicle imported from overseas, we may help you get the appropriate cowl to your distinctive automobile.
Name us for a quote on 0800 369 8590 or book a callback at a time that fits you.
