5 FACTS ABOUT
THE HEADY WORLD OF HYDROGEN
1 Early beginnings
The first hydrogen fuel cell charging station opened in Swindon in 2011 at Honda’s manufacturing site. It served the FCX Clarity, Honda’s first hydrogen car.
2 Lighter than air
Hydrogen fuel cells aren’t just used in cars – they’ve been used in space rockets, and they could be used to power buildings, trucks and even planes.
3 Filling the gaps
The UK may need more hydrogen infrastructure, but other areas of the world are doing better – there are dozens of filling stations in California, with over 100 more to be built by 2027.
4 Heavy lifting
It’s estimated that more than 53,000 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles were being used globally by the end of 2020, including around 31,000 forklift trucks.
5 Big-name involvement
Mercedes produced the first road-legal fuel cell car in 1998, BMW is developing a concept SUV and Jaguar is aiming to produce a Range Rover that uses fuel cells.