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A ground breaking project to ensure the
UK is well positioned for the commercial roll-out of hydrogen fuel cell
electric vehicles has been launched, Business Minister Mark Prisk
announced today.
The new programme – UKH2Mobility – will
evaluate the potential for hydrogen as a fuel for Ultra Low Carbon
Vehicles in the UK before developing an action plan for an anticipated
roll-out to consumers in 2014/15. It aims to:
- Analyse in detail the specific UK
case for the introduction of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles as
one of a number of solutions to decarbonise road transport and
quantify the potential emissions benefits;
- Review the investments required to
commercialise the technology, including refuelling infrastructure;
and
- Identify what is required to make
the UK a leading global player in hydrogen fuel cell electric
vehicle manufacturing thereby paving the way for economic
opportunities to the UK, through the creation of new jobs and
boosting of local economies.
The group brings together the
Government and industrial participants from the utility, gas,
infrastructure and global car manufacturing sectors.
All of the participants have signed a
Memorandum of Understanding to agree to share their knowledge and
expertise.
Speaking at the launch of UKH2Mobility
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.
“Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles
are increasingly being recognised as one of the viable options as we
move to a lower carbon motoring future. They are highly efficient, can
be fuelled in minutes, travel an equivalent range to a conventional
combustion engine, and have zero tail-pipe emissions.
“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.
“UKH2Mobility will bring together
industry expertise to establish the UK as a serious global player in the
manufacture and use of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles and the
supporting infrastructure.”
UKH2Mobility will deliver its
evaluation of the potential of hydrogen as a transport fuel by the end
of 2012. If the results are positive, an action plan will be developed
to work through the steps needed to get the UK ready to be one of the
first markets for the global commercial roll out of Hydrogen Fuel Cell
Electric Vehicles.
ndustry signatory parties to the
Memorandum of Understanding are:
Air Liquide Hydrogen Energy, SA
Air Products PLC
Daimler AG
Hyundai Motor Company
Intelligent Energy Limited
ITM Power PLC
Johnson Matthey PLC
Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Limited
Scottish and Southern Energy plc
Tata Motors European Technical Centre plc
The BOC Group Limited
Toyota Motor Corporation
Vauxhall Motors |
