Hydrogen-Powered Cars A Step Closer In UK

The sight of hydrogen-powered cars on Britain's roads will come a step closer after a new initiative involving the Government and major global industrial players, it is hoped.

The project, called UKH2Mobility, brings together three Government departments and 13 companies from the utility, gas, infrastructure and global car manufacturing sectors.

Speaking at the Royal Society, Business Minister Mark Prisk said: "The UK is proving itself to be a key early market for ultra-low emission vehicles with growing numbers of electric and plug-in hybrids appearing on our roads."

With a £400m investment from the Government, the group will look at ways of bringing the technology into the mainstream with a view to UK becoming a key manufacturer of hydrogen-fuelled cars.

"Hydrogen (Other OTC: HYDGQ.PK - news) fuel cell electric vehicles are increasingly being recognised as one of the viable options as we move to a lower carbon motoring future.

"They are highly efficient, can be fuelled in minutes, travel an equivalent range to a conventional combustion engine, and have zero tail-pipe emissions," Mr Prisk added.

The cross-sector initiative will pull together knowledge and expertise from car giants like Vauxhall, Nissan, Daimler (Xetra: 710000 - news) and Toyota, industrial-gas specialists like Air Products and Air Liquide (EUREX: AIRH.EX - news) as well as utility firm Scottish & Southern Energy.

Dr Henri Winand, chief executive of clean energy specialist Intelligent Energy, said: "Fuel cell vehicles, storage and refuelling technology are here today, they work!

"We now need to look at how we can make these elements, together with the hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, work most effectively to enable the UK to take full advantage of hydrogen as a transport fuel, stimulating inward investment, GDP growth and securing and creating new jobs."

He told Sky News Online the project was unique as it brings together all the players necessary to make it a success.

Hydrogen fuel cells are seen as an excellent alternative to traditional internal combustion engines as they are highly efficient and do not produce any carbon emissions.

Although most car manufacturers have unveiled hydrogen-fuelled models, the cost of the often hand-made cars has kept them at the concept stage.

The project will publish its findings on the potential of hydrogen as a transport fuel by the end of 2012, and aims to roll out the technology to UK consumers by 2015.