Government offers £2m for hydrogen EVs

A new £2 million competition to encourage more businesses to switch to hydrogen-fuelled electric vehicles (EVs) has been launched. Local authorities, health trusts, police forces and private companies can bid […]

A new £2 million competition to encourage more businesses to switch to hydrogen-fuelled electric vehicles (EVs) has been launched.

Local authorities, health trusts, police forces and private companies can bid for a share of the cash under the Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) Fleet Support Scheme.

FCEVs emit no CO2 or other harmful pollutants and the only by-product is pure water vapour.

The money will cover up to 75% of the costs of new cars and vans bought by April 2017 as well as the cost of running them for up to three years.

Support will also be available for the leasing or renting of vehicles, insurance, hydrogen fuel and servicing.

The Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) expects the competition to bring 100 more FCEVs onto UK roads by next spring.

It is part of the government plans to make nearly every vehicle in the country zero-emission by 2050.

Transport Minister Andrew Jones said: “This funding, along with the growing network of hydrogen refuelling stations opening in England, will help businesses and the public sector to get on board with this exciting technology. This is further proof that we are leading the way in making journeys cleaner and protecting the environment.”

The government previously committed £11 million for hydrogen refuelling stations, which are expected to be open by the end of the year.

Last year ELN took the UK’s first hydrogen-powered car, the Toyota Mirai for a test drive.

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