WITH LITTLE UK SUPPORT, HAVE HYDROGEN CARS STALLED FOR GOOD?

HYUNDAI IS PREPARING ITS LATEST NEXO FCEV TO GO SALE HERE IN 2026. BUT WITH THE FOCUS ON PLANT AND HEAVY HAULAGE OPTIONS, IS THERE REALLY A FUTURE FOR FUEL-CELL PASSENGER VEHICLES IN BRITAIN?

- Chris Rosamond

HYDROGEN-fuelled trucks, buses and even off-road earth movers are making inroads in the market here and around the world, yet the number of publicly accessible hydrogen filling stations for cars in the UK has fallen from a dozen or so to, er, just one, in Birmingham. So is the notion of hydrogen fuel for passenger cars stuck in the mud, or dead?

The launch of Hyundai's latest fuel-cell-powered Nexo SUV at the recent Seoul Mobility Show was an exciting moment for drivers interested in the potential benefits of hydrogen.

Hyundai is sure there's still a big future for Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs), and it plans to announce a UK price for the Nexo this year, with a view to delivering the SUV to selected customers in 2026. Given that the starting price is likely to be higher than the £65,000 commanded by the previous Nexo, the company says it's already in talks with companies using - or considering - hydrogen to fuel commercial transport operations, such as port operators, who won't have to rely on a currently non-existent public refuelling network.

But with the prospect of selling just a handful of cars, why bother?

“For us hydrogen is a big part of the renewable sector, particularly if you look at our home market where it’s becoming very successful,” Hyundai's UK head of product and technical PR Robin Hayles told us. “It’s very important to demonstrate this tech is viable, and we're pushing ahead. We know it’s a challenge, but we want to showcase hydrogen as a key part of the suite of renewable tech we offer.”