If youâre concerned with different fuels and like the inner combustion engine (ICE) that comes with a hydrogen-powered automobile over their electrical car (EV) counterpart, you may be questioning whether or not you should purchase a hydrogen-fuelled car within the UK.
On this weblog, we clarify if you happen to can, plus every part else you have to learn about hydrogen-powered autos.
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 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 donât need to cost the battery as you’d with an EV, permitting you to nonetheless profit from the sooner refuelling instances that hydrogen automobiles supply.
That being stated, this kind of hydrogen car doesnât retain the identical acquainted noise as petrol or diesel automobiles, so if thatâs an necessary a part of the ICE car expertise, we’d counsel you go for a automobile thatâs solely powered by hydrogen.
Are there any hydrogen automobiles obtainable within the UK?
There are at the moment two hydrogen-powered automobiles obtainable 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 car
- Physique fashion: 4-door sedan
- Prime pace: 111mph
- Sort: Hydrogen gasoline cell electrical car (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 lots. The automobile was comfy, luxurious, quiet, and smooth â all of the issues you could possibly ask for from one of many first hydrogen-fuelled autos to the touch UK soil.
The Mirai is an FCEV, however itâs nonetheless an important alternative if youâre 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 fashion: 5-door SUV
- Prime pace: 111.2mph
- Sort: Hydrogen gasoline cell car (FCEV)
- Euro NCAP security score: 5/5
If youâre on the lookout for a hydrogen car with more room, Hyundaiâs Nexo is a superb alternative. The car has all of the bells and whistles you’d 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 automobiles coming to the UK?
Sure, a lot of automobile producers have began to develop hydrogen autos.
Toyota, as an example, 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 thatâs 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 options.
Elsewhere, BMW has produced the iX5 Hydrogen â primarily based on the X5 â which is at the moment being trialled around the globe.
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.
Varied hydrogen-dedicated producers have began growing H2 autos as effectively, with Riversimple being considered one of 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 probably be trialed for a yr in Monmouthshire.
What concerning the infrastructure for hydrogen automobiles?
There are at the moment 16 hydrogen refuelling stations (HRS) throughout the nation, six of that are open to the general public.
While it is a far cry from the a whole bunch of EV fashions within the nation and the over 30,000 EV charging stations obtainable, weâre quietly optimistic that it will change within the coming years â 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)
When you stay in or round Swindon, Birmingham, Sheffield, London or Aberdeen, an H2 automobile might already be a viable choice for you. In fact, it will rely on how and the place you utilize your car â if you happen to journey lengthy distances to areas that arenât at the moment lined by public refuelling stations, it may be finest to attend till the infrastructure improves.
Is there nonetheless hope for hydrogen automobiles within the UK?
We predict so.
In some ways, the hydrogen business remains to be in its infancy.
For the time being, 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 start out producing or importing hydrogen-fuelled automobiles to the UK. Likewise, most people must really feel like they’ll belief that theyâll be capable of refuel when crucial throughout their travels.
We predict that, earlier than these alternatively fuelled automobiles change into extra frequent, hydrogen will first be used for business autos and it will assist pave the best way for hydrogen automobiles to come back to market.
It is because many freight drivers cannot rely on EVs, particularly as they often make longer journeys and are below time constraints that donât combine effectively with the lengthy charging instances that include utilizing an electrical car.
Weâre beginning to see the governmentâs plans come to fruition
Again in 2013, the UK authorities predicted that âover one and a half million hydrogen-powered vehicles might be on UK roads by 2030â. 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 theyâve earmarked seven projects that spend money on hydrogen energy. These inexperienced hydrogen initiatives will first serve companies throughout the automotive and pharmaceutical sectors â in addition to in different industries â to assist decarbonise their operations.
With these initiatives, inexperienced hydrogen will play an even bigger position within the UKâs power infrastructure. Any extra hydrogen created from these initiatives might be used to create extra fuelling stations for H2 automobiles, offering the general public and producers with the arrogance they should spend money on H2 autos.
The federal government additionally predicted that âa co-ordinated community of hydrogen refuelling stations will must be established, focusing at first on nationwide trunk routes and closely populated areasâ. We’re already beginning to see these plans come to fruition, with refuelling stations planned for crucial trunk roads alongside the A1(M) and M6 motorways.
Hydrogen automobiles might be the reply for motor fans
If youâre a automobile fanatic, you may be bemoaning the recognition of EVs as a result of they donât sound like what youâre used to listening to with a petroleum or diesel engine. In such circumstances, hydrogen is the candy spot: emission-free and obtainable with an inner combustion engine so it retains the sound and really feel of a standard car.
Though having the ability to drive a hydrogen automobile with out vary anxiousness remains to be a great few years off, weâre 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 car sound make a compelling case. A hydrogen class is about to be introduced to Le Mans in 2027, and Toyotaâs 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 arenât many insurance coverage firms that at the moment present hydrogen car insurance, however youâll be happy to know weâre one of many only a few brokers that may cowl these zero-emission autos.
If youâre able to make the leap and get both the Mirai, the Nexo SUV, or one other hydrogen vehicle imported from overseas, we can assist you get the correct cowl on your distinctive automobile.
Name us for a quote on 0800 369 8590 or book a callback at a time that fits you.
