Aberdeen to launch first hydrogenpowered taxi

Scotland’ s first hydrogenpowered taxi has been launched in Aberdeen.

It follows the city pionee ring hydrogen buses and city council and carsharing club vehicles.

Aberdeen Taxis will run a one- year trial of the Hyundai ix 35 hydrogen fuel cell car after the council granted it a private hire taxi licence.

It has a range of 326 miles –more than three times that of many electric cars.

Refuelling takes about three minutes, and experts said hydrogen cars cost about half as much to run as petrol or diesel models.

Their fuel cells convert hydrogen into electricity for propulsion, with water vapour the only emissions.

There are already ten hydrogen buses operating in Aberdeen – the first in Europe.

Council communities, housing and infra st ructu re convener Y von ne Allan said: “As the first city in Scotland to have its own hydrogen taxi, this is an exciting opportunity for Aberdeen.”