UK DfT announces funding for hydrogen vehicles and infrastructure

The UK Department for Transport (DfT) has announced £23m in funding for hydrogen vehicles and infrastructure.

The funding is expected to boost the creation of hydrogen fuel infrastructure and uptake of hydrogen-powered vehicles, DfT stated.

The DfT plans to launch a competition later this year to distribute the funding among successful bidders as part of its plans to cut carbon emissions, improve air quality and deliver economic opportunities for the UK.

UK Transport Minister John Hayes said: “The transition to zero emission road transport is both inevitable and desirable as it will improve air quality in many of our towns and cities.

"Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles can play a vital role alongside battery electric vehicles to help us cut harmful emissions.

“We know availability of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure can be a potential obstacle to the take up of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles.

"That’s why we’re providing support to give interested parties the confidence to continue to invest in this new emerging technology to help us achieve our ambition for almost all new cars and vans to be zero emission by 2040.”

Hydrogen fuel providers, in partnership with hydrogen vehicles manufacturers, will bid for the funding.

According to DfT, public organisations, businesses and hydrogen operators can submit proposals for the competition.

The UK Government has allocated more than £600m for low-emission vehicles over the course of this parliament and an additional £390m announced for ultra low emission vehicles and driverless cars.

The hydrogen vehicles can be quickly refuelled using a pump like a conventional petrol or diesel car, but instead use gas, according to the statement.

These vehicles, with a range of around 300 miles per tank, produce water as a by-product.

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Image: Hydrogen cars can help improve air quality. Photo: © Crown copyright.