The report has been published by the UKH2Mobility project and is intended to provide a “roadmap” for the introduction of vehicles and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure in the UK.

The report says that up to 10% of new car customers will be open to buying fuel cell vehicles due to the newness of the technology and environmental considerations but “early adopters” will need to have their confidence built to actually buy FCEVs.

Sales will progress as more models are launched and the refuelling network expands and will expand to an anticipated 1.6 million vehicles in total by 2030, with annual sales of more than 300,000 units.

This will require a co-ordinated network of hydrogen refuelling stations, focusing at first on national trunk routes and heavily populated areas. An initial roll-out of 65 stations would need to grow to 1,150 sites by 2030 to support the predicted FCEV sales, representing a £400m investment.

In line with its predicted sales, the UKH2Mobility project predicts that FCEVs could reduce UK annual total vehicle CO2 emissions by three million tonnes in 2030.

Replacing diesel vehicles with FCEVs could also save between £100m and £200m a year in the cost of damage to air quality caused by vehicle emissions by 2050.

Business Minister Michael Fallon said: ‘The transition to ultra-low emission vehicles has already begun. It has the potential to create really significant new economic opportunities for the UK, to diversify national energy supply and to decarbonise road transport. The findings released today demonstrate that hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles can make a significant contribution to this.

‘Successful commercialisation of the technology will require Government to work in true partnership with industry. Our international rivals are looking to steal a march in this area and so UKH2Mobility recognises the importance of prompt action to ensure the potential benefits are realised by businesses and consumers in the UK.’