UK invests £11 million to put hydrogen vehicles on the road

The arrival of hydrogen vehicles on roads in the United Kingdom is one step closer to reality thanks to £11 million ($17 million) in new funding to help develop the necessary infrastructure which was announced by Business Minister Matt Hancock earlier this week in an effort to establish the United Kingdom as a world leader in hydrogen vehicles.

The money will be used to help establish an initial network of 15 hydrogen fueling stations by the end of next year, and will provide a £2 million ($3 million) fund to help establish a public sector fleet of around 40 hydrogen-powered cars. With the first hydrogen vehicles expected to arrive in the United Kingdom next year, this new funding is a show of much needed support for the technology from the British government.

This move is part of the United Kingdom’s attempt to become a global leader in ultra-low emission vehicles and follows news earlier this month that Toyota Motors has chosen the country as one of the first markets for its FCEV when it goes on sale next year. The British government is investing hundreds of millions into decarbonizing road transport in the country.

Speaking in Japan where he met executives at Honda, Nissan and Toyota, Mr Hancock said: “Britain has become one of the best places in the world to build cars, with the value of those we export outstripping imports for the first time in a generation, but we want to go further. Hydrogen cars present us with a huge economic opportunity and can bolster our internationally renowned automotive industry. We want to make the UK one of the best places in the world to design, manufacture and sell ultra-low emission vehicles. Government will work in true partnership with industry so the potential benefits are realized by businesses and consumers across the UK.”

Read more about the story at Business Green.