The six UK cars have been delivered to organisations including Air Products, ITM Power, Johnson Matthey and Transport for London as part of the London Hydrogen Network Expansion (LHNE) consortium project; a Government-backed initiative part funded by the Technology Strategy Board (now Innovate UK). 

Air Products, Hyundai Motor UK and Johnson Matthey, all members of the LHNE consortium, will use the vehicles to demonstrate first-hand how hydrogen fuel cell vehicles operate easily in the real world, complementing the existing hydrogen-powered vans. This will support the project’s work to create the UK’s first hydrogen powered transport system across London and the South East.

The arrival of the ix35 Fuel Cell vehicles comes just days after Business Minister Matthew Hancock announced £11m of UK government and industry funding to support hydrogen transport. This continued investment in the sector through 2015 will expand the nationwide hydrogen refuelling station network, boosting consumer confidence and increasing uptake of fuel cell vehicles.

Diana Raine, European business manager hydrogen energy at Air Products and LHNE consortium leader, commented: 'We are very excited to be introducing the Hyundai ix35 fuel cell vehicle to our business fleet, so we can demonstrate first-hand the benefits of hydrogen as a transport fuel. Air Products is proud to be leading the LHNE project, which is bringing together all the components necessary to make hydrogen transport possible across London and the South East. We are equally proud of our developing relationship with Hyundai, which now covers four continents.'

The arrival of the ix35 Fuel Cell vehicles comes just days after Business Minister Matthew Hancock announced £11m of UK government and industry funding to support hydrogen transport by expanding the nationwide hydrogen refuelling station network.

Tony Whitehorn, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor UK, added: ‘Making the first UK customer deliveries of hydrogen-powered cars is a huge landmark for the industry. Hyundai is the first company in the world to start series-production of a fuel cell vehicle and is committed to rolling-out this technology in line with government plans to grow the refuelling infrastructure.’