Fuel of the future

Zero-emission motoring moves a step closer as UK gears up for hydrogen fuel cell cars.

With the first mass-produced fuel cell vehicles (FCV) hydrogen fuel about to his the roads and plans for a network of refuelling stations, the UK is getting set for the next big thing.

FCVs have a similar performance and range to conventional cars, they can refuel in less than three minutes and, crucially, only
give off water vapour.

During October alone there are been four important milestones in the UK.

• Hyundai became the first manufacturer to roll out hydrogen-fuelled cars in the UK with the delivery of six ix35 Fuel Cell vehicles to customers
• Launch of the UK’s first commercial scale solar-powered hydrogen production and refuelling facility at Honda’s Swindon manufacturing plant
• Government investment of £11 million will help establish an initial network of up to 15 hydrogen refuelling stations by the end of 2015
• Sainsbury’s announced that the UK’s first supermarket forecourt hydrogen dispenser will be located at its Hendon store by the end of the year.

First FCVs on the road

Next year the first hydrogen-powered cars will begin to appear on our roads…

Toyota is due to launch its FCV four-door saloon in Japan in April 2015, followed by Europe and North America in the summer.

Private motorists in the UK can order ix35 Fuel Cell vehicles now by contacting Hyundai UK directly with the first deliveries
expected in 2015.

Meanwhile, Honda, which pioneered production hydrogen cars with the FCX Clarity (launched in 2008) says it will launch its new FCV in Japan and the US by the end of 2015, with Europe following in 2016.

As Kate Warren, from the Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV), said this week: ““The UK government has a vision of the UK at the forefront of design, development, manufacturing, and use of ultra low emission vehicles.”

Pioneering Honda FCX Clarity

We drove one of only two Honda FCX Clarity cars in the UK this week. They were both on a flying visit from Germany for the launch of the solar-powered hydrogen production and refuelling facility at the giant Honda plant in Swindon.

Launched in 2008, these pioneering cars are now out of production. It’s a shame we never got to experience them in the UK because they are spacious, smooth, luxurious vehicles.

Just like driving a large electric car, the Clarity is powerful with excellent acceleration and has a 270-mile range.

The fuel cell in the boot of the car (there’s still a decent space in there) combines hydrogen with oxygen to make electricity. The electricity then powers the electric motor at the front in the engine bay, which in turn propels the vehicle.

In common with many electric vehicles, the car also has regenerative braking and uses a separate battery to store energy recovered during braking.