Will Hydrogen Cars Be a Thing in the UK?

As the UK moves toward achieving net-zero emissions, alternative energy solutions for vehicles are gaining traction. Among these, hydrogen cars have emerged as a potential contender to petrol, diesel, and electric vehicles (EVs).

But with limited availability and a lack of refuelling infrastructure, can they truly take off in the UK? We have everything you need to know about these innovative vehicles and whether they’re the right fit for a greener future.

These are cars that were developed in response to the need to reduce our carbon footprint since they use hydrogen as a fuel source instead of petrol or diesel. They produce no carbon emissions to run, instead either generating electricity in a fuel cell or a clean combustion engine. The waste product of either process is simply water.

Two different types of cars operate on very different principles. Let’s take a look.

These models use electricity, just like EVs, but do so differently. Instead of using a lithium-ion battery that is charged via electricity, they use fuel cells. The fuel cells combine hydrogen and oxygen in a chemical reaction to create an electric current. That electric current then powers the electric motor in the car, much like an EV would when it draws electric current from its batteries. The only emission produced is water.

This model is more like a traditional car because it uses an internal clean combustion engine that burns hydrogen instead of petrol or diesel. The combustion turns chemical energy into kinetic energy, with the heat of combustion turning a crankshaft to allow the vehicle to move forward. The primary difference is in the exhaust. Instead of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and other toxic gases, all that is emitted is water.

As with anything in life, it’s important to consider the pros and cons. Here are some essential factors to consider.

Since FCEVs and clean combustion vehicles only produce water as a byproduct, they don’t emit carbon directly, making them a potentially viable part of net-zero strategies.

They can generally travel about 300-400 miles before needing a refill. For comparison, EV ranges are, on average, 150-300 miles. However, newer EVs coming out now are all above 300 miles, with a few even over 400 miles, so this will soon change.

They only take about 5 minutes to refill, similar to petrol cars. It’s a significant advantage over EV recharging, especially when not using a rapid charger.

While they don’t emit carbon, their fuel source is rarely carbon-free. We can generate the fuel using electrolysis, which uses electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. However, about 90% of the world’s hydrogen supply is still produced from petrol, oil, or coal.

To create a truly eco-friendly alternative to petrol and diesel, the fuel source must be produced from electrolysis rather than from fossil fuels. Producing a kilogram of green hydrogen costs between £3 and £5, while fossil fuel sources only cost £1.27. At the pump, this means it costs between £50 to £75 to fill your vehicle. While that is slightly cheaper or comparable to petrol, you can recharge your EV at home for between £4 and £20.

The energy efficiency of FCEVs and clean combustion models is about 33%, with losses in electrolysis, transportation, storage, and distribution. This sounds great compared to petrol cars, which are only 16% efficient. However, battery-powered EVs are about 77% efficient.

There are only six refuelling stations in the UK, some of which are restricted to buses. With so few options available, their usefulness is limited.

Yes, these cars are already available in the UK. However, their availability is still as limited as a decade ago. Only two models are currently available, the Toyota Mirai and the Hyundai NEXO, and less than 300 of these have ever been sold. This is partly due to their hefty price tag, with the more affordable Mirai starting at £65,000. Furthermore, there are currently only six refuelling stations available. While a few more are planned, their widespread availability is not expected anytime soon.

Since EVs are much more widely available, can we make their use carbon-neutral? Absolutely! We can use solar power with solar battery storage like the EcoFlow Power Ocean (Three-Phase) or the EcoFlow Power Ocean (Single-Phase) battery systems. These systems start with 5kW of capacity that is expandable to 45kW. There are many benefits to having a home battery system, including charging an EV.

To make your home and car even more eco-friendly, use an energy management system to monitor your battery recharge and discharge to optimise its use. You can also use it to monitor the EcoFlow PowerHeat air-to-water heat pump to make your home’s heating and cooling more efficient.

If you pair that with the EcoFlow PowerGlow solar water heater, you can generate your hot water and use it for in-floor heating as well, for even better heating and cooling efficiency.

With the challenges in green hydrogen and the lack of infrastructure, it’s not expected to take off anytime soon. However, due to EVs' current range limitations, it is being pursued for heavy goods vehicles.

England is building refuelling stations specifically to supply FCEV heavy goods vehicles in northeastern England, which may also lead to the development of more FCEV cars in the future.

Hydrogen cars offer exciting possibilities for clean transportation, with zero tailpipe emissions and quick refuelling times. However, their widespread adoption in the UK faces significant hurdles, including limited refuelling infrastructure, high production costs for green fuel, and stiff competition from the growing EV market.

While they may not be ready for the mainstream, it’s an area worth watching, especially for heavy goods vehicles. For now, investing in home solar and energy storage solutions like the EcoFlow Power Ocean (Three-Phase) or the EcoFlow Power Ocean (Single-Phase) battery systems offers sustainable energy to power your EV and home.