Currently reading: Government to set out fuel cell plan
The government is to set out a road map for the introduction of fuel cell cars by 2014/15

The government will set out a 'road map' for the introduction of fuel cell cars by 2014/15, by the of end of this year.

Announcing the UK H2 Mobility programme, junior business minister Mark Prisk said: 'We are bringing purpose, drive and the energy to the launch of this key green transport technology''.

'We know this deadline is tight, but let's get some drive behind this idea'.

The road map will find the scale of production needed and feasibility of the infrastucture required, customer needs and the likely price of cars once they become market ready around 2015/16.Vauxhall, for example, plans to sell a FC vehicle by then.

Up to £7.5m of investment will be made available as a grant from the Transport Strategy Board on top of the green transport budget of £400m to support the H2 Mobility project.

Thirteen industrial partners are part of the initiative, including Nissan, Tata, Toyota and Vauxhall.The 13 today signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a hydrogen infrastructure in the UK.The UK already makes 550k tonnes of hydrogen every year, the bulk of it used in industrial processes, such as glass manufacture.

'Its here, its now, we need to develop it faster,' says Kevin Michaelis of gas maker Air Products.There are four H2 fuelling stations in the UK.

Julian Rendell

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TegTypeR 19 January 2012

Re: Government to set out fuel cell plan

I realise there are still some issues with regards to fuel cell technology but I find it encouraging that the government haven't been blinkered by EV's and are keeping an open mind!

NobbyUK 18 January 2012

Re: Government to set out fuel cell plan

Maxycat wrote:
Until some genius can tell us how we are going to make Hydrogen without using fossil fuels to do so I expect complete failure in converting to hydrogen cars.

Try raising your sights - things are looking up...

http://www.gizmag.com/honda-solar-hydrogen-fuel-cell-refueller-electric-vehicle/14049/

ordinary bloke 18 January 2012

Re: Government to set out fuel cell plan

Autocar wrote:
Announcing the UK H2 Mobility programme, junior business minister Mark Prisk said: 'We are bringing purpose, drive and the energy to the launch of this key green transport technology''.
Great idea, how about re-routing some of the money earmarked for HS2 or Boris's Thames Estuary airport into setting up the infrastructure and more research into ways of producing hydrogen in the required quantities, cheaply. That would be real progress.