The UK government’s decision to allow hybrids to remain on sale until 2035 creates a “potential window of opportunity” for hydrogen van technology to become more widely adopted, according to fleet software firm FleetCheck.
Peter Golding, CEO at FleetCheck said the additional time meant both that manufacturers could invest more in vehicles, and government and private businesses in refuelling infrastructure.
According to Golding, hydrogen is a good alternative in applications where electric vans may not be suitable, but government’s “previous lack of clarity” meant solutions would have been needed by the end of the decade, which was an “unlikely” timeframe.
But now the extra five years “changes the picture considerably”, Golding claimed, which “creates the opportunity to make hydrogen much more of a viable option for fleets”.
He added that the ZEV Mandate meant businesses still need to be “buying electric vans in large quantities by 2030” – but a portfolio approach to fuel types could be adopted by the additional five years.
Golding added: “It’s now possible to envisage a future where van fleets switch out of diesel into electric for lighter duty applications, and from diesel to petrol hybrid and then hydrogen for longer routes with heavier payloads.”
However, he added the practicality of such a strategy was dependent on the type of hydrogen vehicles and associated infrastructure that would be developed.
Currently, there is “much to do” with only one hydrogen van on sale and a few fuelling stations, although some manufacturers are working on such technology, both fuel cells and ICE, and it could be “relatively easily” put into vans.
Golding said: “Fuelling is a definite issue but there is, of course, also investment in hydrogen for trucks and other larger commercial vehicles, so there is potential synergy there.”
He concluded: “It would be useful for the new government to recognise the potential of hydrogen and take more of a structured lead in this area, and we hope to see some movement here soon.”
Image of Peter Golding courtesy of FleetCheck
