Hyundai fuel cell cars on UK roads

Air Products, Hyundai Motor UK, and Johnson Matthey – all members of the LHNE consortium – will use the cars to demonstrate first-hand how hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) operate easily in the real world.

This will support the project’s work to create the UK’s first hydrogen powered transport system across London and the South East. The cars will complement the hydrogen internal combustion engine (HICE) vans, converted by Revolve Technologies, that are already in service with Commercial Group.

Hyundai was selected to supply the cars based on the great progress it has made in making hydrogen FCEVs commercially available. It was the first global automaker to announce a commercial rollout of zero-emission FCEVs, with plans to manufacture 1000 units of the ix35 Fuel Cell vehicle by 2015.

Hydrogen at Sainsbury’s supermarket

Working with global leaders in hydrogen infrastructure, the new Air Products dispenser at Sainsbury’s will join a network of existing stations in London and the South East of England.

Owned and operated by Air Products, the 700 bar (10 000 psi) SmartFuel^® station will be able to refuel a growing number of hydrogen-powered fleets driving around London. These include fuel cell buses running between Covent Garden and Tower Gateway, hybrid HICE delivery vans, and fuel cell taxis already driving on London’s roads.

Hydrogen powered vehicles can refuel in less than three minutes, and offer drivers the same range and speed as conventional vehicles.

London Hydrogen Network Expansion project

The government-backed LHNE project is co-funded by Innovate UK (formerly the Technology Strategy Board). TSB first supported LHNE in 2012 as part of a £7.5 million (US$12 million) initiative to accelerate the commercialisation of projects involving fuel cells and hydrogen energy systems.

The LHNE consortium, led by Air Products, will deliver a publicly accessible, fast-fill 350 and 700 bar (5000 and 10 000 psi) hydrogen fueling station network in London and the South East, over a period of three years. The hydrogen station at Heathrow Airport can already accommodate 350 and 700 bar refueling, and a new hydrogen station with a matching specification will be built in central London.

The creation of this network is particularly important because the hydrogen fuel cell cars due to go on sale from 2014/2015 will require a 700 bar fueling system. The network will include Air Products’ SmartFuel stations, which provide fueling at 350 and 700 bar, and include the company’s technology which complies with the SAE J2601 hydrogen fueling protocol.

The bigger UK hydrogen picture

The UK government recently announced funding to help establish an initial network of up to 15 hydrogen refueling stations by the end of 2015, as well as funding for public sector hydrogen vehicles. The UK H₂ Mobility project has mapped out the future of hydrogen fuel cell cars in the UK, forecasting 1.6 million of them on the nation’s roads by 2030.

Earlier this year the Mayor of London’s Office announced the city’s participation in the separate European HyFIVE project, which will see a total of 110 hydrogen FCEVs deployed at several European locations – Bolzano, Copenhagen, Innsbruck, London, Munich and Stuttgart – alongside new clusters of hydrogen refueling stations.