Some fleet operators are starting to “take hydrogen seriously” as a fuel option on the back of new developments and continued challenges with battery electric vans, says the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP).
Paul Hollick, chair at the organisation, said the forthcoming arrival of the Vauxhall Vivaro Hydrogen – which starts UK fleet trials later this year – was providing fleets with the potential opportunity to follow a multi-fuel, zero emissions strategy.
“Ever since I’ve been involved in the fleet industry, hydrogen has been the ‘five years from now’ solution for zero emissions. Historically, it has never been quite ready for adoption and the promise it represents of almost compromise-free travel never quite materialises. Now, however, we are seeing a handful of fleet managers – all van operators – start to take hydrogen seriously.”
He cautioned however that the many complications surrounding hydrogen had not gone away.
“For example, clean production of the fuel – known as green hydrogen – remains expensive while there are probably fewer than 15 public stations across the UK. These facts in themselves present fleets with some very real, day-to-day problems to solve.”
The move towards hydrogen was largely being prompted by the difficulties surrounding the adoption of electric vans in their current form, Hollick elaborated.
“Some fleets in some applications are finding that the range and payload of the electric vans available so far remain unsuitable for their needs. There are also operational issues ranging from poor towing ability through to practical difficulties such as charging out of hours. Against this backdrop, especially for businesses with strict zero emissions corporate targets, hydrogen looks like an option worth trying.”
The viability of hydrogen at the moment chiefly lies in a single vehicle. Arriving in the UK soon, the Vauxhall Vivaro Hydrogen is expected to offer a 249-mile range and the ability to be refuelled in three minutes.
The AFP says it’s really the first practical hydrogen-powered panel van available in quantity in the UK.
However, fleets adopting hydrogen vans would face several hurdles. Finding fuel pumps would be the main one, probably requiring the construction of their own hydrogen bunkering facilities to ensure supply, while the price of hydrogen has been even more volatile than other road fuels in recent times.
“In addition to these issues, residual values are basically an unknown. Remarketing a vehicle for which there is effectively no refuelling infrastructure is always going to be difficult. It’s worth bearing in mind here the experience of Swindon, which had two hydrogen filling stations a few years ago, leading to local fleets dipping a toe in the water with available hydrogen cars. Both closed and those fleets were effectively left with nowhere to go.”
Really, to become a serious national option in the UK, hydrogen needs substantial government backing similar to the kind seen in Germany, Hollick added.
“That means both support for the purchase of new vehicles and the creation of a viable national network of green hydrogen stations. Our view is that when it comes to early adoption, as with electric vehicles, production availability and technology tends to follow the places where there are incentives. However, that just doesn’t look like it’s happening in the UK in any meaningful way, certainly under the current government.
“Until then, we’ll be watching the few fleets that are actively adopting hydrogen with a high degree of interest. Some of the most prominent are AFP members and we hope to share their experiences and their developing best practice over the coming months and years.”
Earlier this month, software specialist FleetCheck also said there was huge potential for hydrogen in future fleet zero emissions strategies for light commercial vehicles – and added that the upcoming election and potential new UK government provided a much-needed opportunity for a rethink on the future hydrogen strategy.
FleetCheck MD Peter Golding has called on fleets to help pressure any new administration to deliver a more effective hydrogen van strategy.
The last week has also seen two major announcements on hydrogen refuelling.
Announced ahead of the start of sales for Vauxhall’s Vivaro and Movano Hydrogen vans, the partnership will work on hydrogen infrastructure solutions that will mean businesses can refuel hydrogen-powered vehicles onsite or at a located refuelling facility. Later in 2024, orders will open for the hydrogen version of the Movano, Vauxhall’s largest LCV, ahead of first customer deliveries in 2025.
Hydrogen vans have also received a further boost with news that a multi-million pound project tasked with delivering a hydrogen transport hub has gone live in the Tees Valley to decarbonise deliveries.
The programme, funded a £7m injection from the Department for Transport and supported by private investment, will deliver a publicly accessible green hydrogen refuelling station. This will be located near Middlesbrough and built by fuel distributer Exolum.
It will also showcase the first large-scale deployment of fuel cell electric commercial vehicles and HGVs in the UK as part of the Tees Valley Hydrogen Vehicle Ecosystem (HYVE) Consortium.
As the selected HGV leasing partner within the consortium, Novuna Vehicle Solutions will work alongside German manufacturer Quantron AG to build, fund and manage the in-life maintenance of more than 20 fuel cell electric HGVs ranging from 4.2 to 27 tonnes deployed in the project.
Automotive and green energy specialist First Hydrogen is also continuing its work on readying its hydrogen fuel cell van for fleets. Based on a MAN eTGE fitted with First Hydrogen’s powertrain, it’s already been tested with major operators including SSE and Rivus and is now on trial with Wales & West Utilities.
