New Government and cross industry programme to make hydrogen powered travel in the UK a reality
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Issued
on 18 January 2012
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.�
Jerry Hardcastle, Vice-President for Vehicle Design and
Development at Nissan said:
�This is an important step for the automotive sector towards
the development of clean vehicle technologies and zero emission
mobility. It will lay many of the foundations for the commercial
deployment of hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric vehicles which could
represent a large segment of the UK market in the coming years. With
this comprehensive list of partners we can be assured to have all the
knowledge necessary to make UKH2 Mobility an exhaustive and credible
study.�
Kevin Michaelis, Regional Vice President, Liquid
Bulk/Generated Gases�Europe, Air Products, said:
�This project brings together the leading hydrogen
infrastructure providers, at the forefront of deployment worldwide,
with the common goal of supporting the rollout of hydrogen transport
across the United Kingdom.
�The hydrogen infrastructure sector has been working over a
number of years to develop hydrogen transport in the UK. We are very
pleased that the progress made is being recognised by the Government in
this ground breaking initiative that will shift the focus from
R&D to deployment of hydrogen infrastructure.
�Working together with Government and leading car
manufacturers we can support the creation of a hydrogen transport
infrastructure that will dramatically cut harmful vehicle emissions and
move the UK towards a zero carbon transport system.�
Dr Henri Winand, Chief Executive of Intelligent Energy said:
�The UK H2Mobility is a ground breaking industry led task
force. Its job is to roll its sleeves up and ensure that the UK is well
positioned for the commercial roll-out of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles
from 2014/15 as part of a balanced portfolio of drivetrains. Fuel cell
vehicles, storage and refuelling technology are here today, they work!
We now need to look at how we can make these elements, together with
the hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, work most effectively to enable
the UK to take full advantage of hydrogen as a transport fuel;
stimulating inward investment, GDP growth and securing and creating new
jobs.�
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.
Notes
1) There are 13 industry participants (below) in UKH2Mobility
together with three UK Government Departments � The Department for
Business, Innovation and Skills, The Department for Transport and the
Department for Energy and Climate Change in addition to the European
Fuel Cells & Hydrogen Joint Undertaking.
2) Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles themselves share a large
proportion of the electric motor and drive train technology with other
electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles; it is the energy
storage/conversion devices that are different. The fuel cell is an
electrochemical device that can be refuelled quickly and will continue
to generate power so long as it is fed with hydrogen fuel. They are
highly efficient devices (50-60 per cent compared to an average of
around 20 per cent for internal combustion engines) that produce no
emissions or pollutants at the tail-pipe and much reduced overall
well-to-wheel emissions when compared with today�s petrol and diesel
engines.
3) Hydrogen is a clean energy carrier. When used as fuel in
fuel cell systems it does not produce any carbon emissions (carbon
monoxide, carbon dioxide, unburned hydrocarbons or particulates).
Therefore, using hydrogen will contribute to the improvement of air
quality and the reduction of CO2.
4) Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric vehicles are seen as part of
the portfolio of solutions that will be required to decarbonise road
transport. The Automotive Council Roadmap identifies a pathway where
fuel cell electric vehicles will complement hybrid and battery electric
vehicles and more efficient internal combustion engines.
5) The Government continues to take a technology-neutral
approach to supporting low and ultra-low carbon vehicle technology and
recognises that a portfolio of solutions will be required to
decarbonise transport. Both the Plug-in Car Grant and Plug-In Van Grant
are open to all vehicles meeting the performance criteria, including
hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, pure electric and plug-in hybrid models.
These Grants give both private and business consumers a reduction in
the upfront cost of eligible vehicles (http://www.dft.gov.uk/topics/sustainable/olev/plug-in-car-grant/">http://www.dft.gov.uk/topics/sustainable/olev/plug-in-car-grant/)
6) Industry signatory parties to the Memorandum of
Understanding are:
Air
Liquide, 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
About the Author
� Crown Copyright. Material taken from the BIS Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Reproduced under the terms and conditions of the Click-Use Licence.
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Article Published/Sorted/Amended on Scopulus 2012-01-23 11:21:36 in Economic Articles
