Hydrogen vehicles in time for London Olympics

The London Hydrogen Partnership has launched an ambitious plan to put hydrogen powered vehicles on London’s roads in time for the Olympics in 2012.

Boris has ambitious hydrogen vehicle plan for London but who’s funding it?

London Mayor Boris Johnson aims to have 20-50 London taxis and 150 buses all powered by hydrogen and operating in the capital’s streets in time for the London Olympics in 2012. They will be supported by six hydrogen filling stations at strategic points round London.

Hydrogen technologies play a key role in the Mayor’s plans to cut emissions and pollutants which have contributed to London’s poor air quality.

There are already a number of hydrogen fuel cell prototype cabs in operation as part of the government Technology Strategy Board’s demonstration project. The consortium is led by Intelligent Energy, who have developed the fuel cell, supported by sports car maker Lotus Engineering who have built the powertrain and integrated it into the taxi’s bodyshell.

Hydrogen is stored under pressure in a tank located in the engine bay of a normal cab. Electricity, generated by the fuel cell, is fed into the battery pack beneath the floor of the taxi which powers the motors in the wheels.

Fuel cell cars emit no particulates, no CO2 and no other greenhouse gases, the only emission being pure water. The hydrogen fuel tank can be replenished in a matter of minutes, unlike battery-electric vehicles which need to be fully recharged in eight hours overnight. The other great advantage over battery-electric cars is range – the fuel cell cab can be driven for 250 miles between refills compared to around 100 miles for most battery-electric cars.

London Hydrogen Action Plan

But has the issue of cost been overcome? Car manufacturers have long claimed that the current state of fuel cell technology does not enable mass manufacturing because the cost would place the car’s price beyond the scope of most consumers. Building an infrastructure of refuelling stations has also been regarded as far more costly than fast-charge electric points.

Boris Johnson’s ambitious targets are part of his London Hydrogen Action Plan 2010-2012, steered by the London Hydrogen Partnership. Much will depend on whether he can obtain the funding for the plan which he is seeking from the European Union, UK government and the private sector.