The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
New £23m fund to make sure hydrogen fuel is not just hot air
Just as we’re getting used to the idea that electric cars might be the future, another source of power is now being promoted.
The Westminster Government has created a new £23 million fund to boost the take-up of hydrogen vehicles and improve the infrastructure that supports them.
There are just two hydrogen cars on sale – the Toyota Mirai and the Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell.
Though extremely environmentally friendly – each car emits just water as a by-product of the combustion process – their high list price and the relatively small number of filling stations has limited their appeal.
There are only 14 active hydrogen filling stations in the country, the vast majority in the London area.
Hydrogen fuel providers will now have the ability to bid for funding and organisations which produce hydrogen vehicles will also be able to access this money. Transport minister John Hayes said: “We know availability of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure can be a potential obstacle to the take-up of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles.
“That’s why we’re providing support to give interested parties the confidence to continue to invest in this new emerging technology to help us achieve our ambition for almost all new cars and vans to be zero emission by 2040.”
A competition will be launched in the summer which will see public organisations and hydrogen operators invited to submit proposals.
Successful bidders will have the investments they are making matched by the Government.
The announcement comes as a continuation of the Government’s plans to lower carbon emissions and improve air quality.
Paul Van der Burgh, president and managing director of Toyota, said: “We believe hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles can play an important role in a low carbon, low emissions society.”