In the event you’re enthusiastic 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 likely to be 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 you’ll want to learn 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 most important 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 need to cost the battery as you’d with an EV, permitting you to nonetheless profit from the quicker refuelling instances that hydrogen vehicles provide.
That being mentioned, such a 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’d counsel you go for a automobile that’s solely powered by hydrogen.
Are there any hydrogen vehicles out there within the UK?
There are at present two hydrogen-powered vehicles out there 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 pace: 111mph
- Sort: 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 need to say we loved the expertise so much. The automobile was comfy, luxurious, quiet, and smooth – all of the issues you might ask for from one of many first hydrogen-fuelled autos to the touch UK soil.
The Mirai is an FCEV, however it’s nonetheless a terrific selection in case you’re considering 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
- Prime pace: 111.2mph
- Sort: Hydrogen gas cell automobile (FCEV)
- Euro NCAP security score: 5/5
In the event you’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’d anticipate 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 similar to a petroleum or diesel automobile 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 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 inner combustion engine.
The vehicle was driven at Goodwood Festival of Speed by Rowan Atkinson to showcase how motorsport might 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 present 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.
Varied hydrogen-dedicated producers have began creating H2 autos as effectively, 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. This can be 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 present 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 out there, 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)
In the event you reside in or round Swindon, Birmingham, Sheffield, London or Aberdeen, an H2 automobile might already be a viable choice for you. After all, this may depend upon how and the place you utilize your automobile – in case you journey lengthy distances to areas that aren’t at present coated by public refuelling stations, it is likely to be greatest to attend till the infrastructure improves.
Is there nonetheless hope for hydrogen vehicles within the UK?
We predict so.
In some ways, the hydrogen trade remains to be in its infancy.
In the mean time, hydrogen is going through a chicken-and-egg scenario the place the infrastructure must be in place earlier than extra producers have the boldness to start out producing or importing hydrogen-fuelled vehicles to the UK. Likewise, most of the people must really feel like they will belief that they’ll have the ability to refuel when essential throughout their travels.
We predict that, earlier than these alternatively fuelled vehicles turn out to be extra widespread, hydrogen will first be used for industrial autos and this may assist pave the best way for hydrogen vehicles to return to market.
It’s because many freight drivers cannot rely on EVs, particularly as they typically make longer journeys and are below time constraints that don’t combine effectively with the lengthy charging instances 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 might be on UK roads by 2030”. While this deadline appears unlikely contemplating solely 300 hydrogen-powered autos are at present on UK roads (together with H2 buses), we do now appear to be within the early phases of their plans.
It’s because they’ve earmarked seven projects that spend money on 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 a much bigger function within the UK’s power infrastructure. Any extra hydrogen created from these initiatives might be used to create extra fuelling stations for H2 vehicles, offering the general public and producers with the boldness they should spend money on H2 autos.
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 important trunk roads alongside the A1(M) and M6 motorways.
Hydrogen vehicles might be the reply for motor fanatics
In the event you’re a automobile fanatic, you is likely to be 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 circumstances, hydrogen is the candy spot: emission-free and out there with an inner combustion engine so it retains the sound and really feel of a conventional automobile.
Though having the ability to drive a hydrogen automobile with out vary anxiousness remains to be a very good few years off, we’re satisfied that the event of the hydrogen infrastructure will pace up within the months and years forward.
There are already talks of hydrogen being utilized in motorsport because the quick refuelling instances 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 might 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 firms that at present 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.
In the event you’re able to make the leap and get both the Mirai, the Nexo SUV, or one other hydrogen vehicle imported from overseas, we may also help you get the precise cowl in your distinctive automobile.
Name us for a quote on 0800 369 8590 or book a callback at a time that fits you.
