What is the current state of hydrogen power for cars in the UK?

With every government and politician in Europe focusing on the future of transportation, hydrogen is one fuel source which is often in the conversation.

While many car makers are transitioning and investing into a one-way street of electric powertrains, some are taking a multiple-solution strategy that could help bring vehicles into a cleaner and brighter future with one big contributor to this goal being hydrogen.

Even though things are looking up for this technology, the UK – among many other countries – is waiting to fully jump into hydrogen-powered cars. But where is the future heading for it?

Here are some of your questions answered.

How many hydrogen filling stations are in the UK?

Shell hydrogen refuelling station
There are currently only 16 hydrogen filling stations in the UK. (Credit: PA images/ Shell)

By December 2023, there were 16 stations across the country with a further 16 projects set to open in Britain.

What cars can I buy that run on hydrogen?

Hyundai Nexo
The Nexo is the only hydrogen SUV on sale. (Credit: Hyundai)

The second car is the Hyundai Nexo, an SUV priced from £65,995 and rising to £69,495.

What investments are being made to make the fuel more accessible?

Hydrogen storage tanks
The UK is investing around £400 million over the next three years for the substance. (Credit: PA Alamy)

The goal is to produce green hydrogen through a process called electrolysis and it was confirmed that suppliers will receive a guaranteed price from the government for the clean energy they supply.

However, much of this investment looks to aid the use of hydrogen in cleaner power solutions, rather than directly for hydrogen-powered cars.

What does hydrogen fuel cell have over battery electric technology?

An electric car charging at a motorway services
Electric cars have a longer waiting time when it comes to charging compared to hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. (Credit: PA images)

Firstly, a hydrogen fuel cell requires just refuelling of the hydrogen tank itself which the process is very similar to filling up conventional fuel in an internal-combustion-engined vehicle. It takes just a few minutes to do and it’s a very simple process – whereas with EVs, the charging times are still a lot longer with the quickest still taking around 25 to 30 mins.

The other advantage is that a fuel cell can deliver a greater range of electricity, with the Toyota Mirai getting over 400 miles out of a tank. Electric car ranges are improving but only a handful of models – such as the Mercedes EQS – can achieve over 400 miles between charges.

What’s the difference between green, blue and grey hydrogen?

Wind farm
Green hydrogen is made with renewable energy such as wind and solar power. (Credit: PA images)

The first is green, which is made by using electricity from renewable sources to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen – it’s also known as carbon-free.

Blue is during the steam reforming process, a high proportion of carbon generated is captured and stored underground – this is low carbon hydrogen.

Finally, there is grey. It’s generated from natural gas or methane through the steam reforming process causing greenhouse gas emissions which is what most of today’s hydrogen is used for.

Finally, you’ve got grey. At this level, traditional fuels like natural gas or methane are used to create hydrogen – but this creates greenhouse gas emissions in the process.

But, the main focus of governments and companies around the world is to focus on producing green, because all of its processes are used through renewables such as wind and solar, which benefits the production process by lowering the overall CO2 produced to make hydrogen.

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