Government plans to allow hybrids to stay on sale until 2035 creates a potential “window of opportunity” for hydrogen van technology to become more widely adopted, says FleetCheck.

Upcoming hydrogen van launches include the Renault Master H2-Tech, due at the end of 2025

The Department for Transport confirmed last week that new hybrid vehicles are likely to remain on sale until 2035 under the reinstated 2030 ICE phase-out, allaying concerns that only battery electric vehicles would be allowed from the end of the decade. An upcoming consultation is expected to explore what types of hybrids could remain on sale and set out plans for vans.

Peter Golding, CEO at FleetCheck, said that additional time meant that manufacturers could invest more in vehicles while government and private businesses could inject cash in refuelling infrastructure.

“Hydrogen has always looked the best zero emissions alternative if electric vans prove unsuitable for some applications because of issues with range, payload and charging. However, the previous lack of clarity around government zero emissions policy made it seem solutions would need to be in place by the end of the decade, which was unlikely.

“Now, we arguably have an extra five years during which hydrogen technology and infrastructure can be developed, which changes the picture considerably. It creates the opportunity to make hydrogen much more of a viable option for fleets.”

Golding said the ZEV mandate meant that businesses would still need to be buying electric vans in large quantities by 2030 but that the extra five years would allow a portfolio approach to fuel types to be adopted.

“It’s now possible to envisage a future where van fleets switch out of diesel into electric for lighter duty applications, and from diesel to petrol hybrid and then hydrogen for longer routes with heavier payloads. Given the technological and legislative boundaries that we currently know about, this makes sense.”

The practicality of this strategy would very much depend on the development of hydrogen vehicles and infrastructure, he added, with both in very short supply today.

“There is currently one hydrogen van on sale and a handful of fuelling stations, so there is much to do. However, several manufacturers have been working on hydrogen technology – based on both fuel cells and internal combustion engines – and implementing this in vans could be carried out relatively easily.”

This month’s IAA Transportation 2024 event in Hanover saw Renault preview its Master hydrogen van, due at the end of 2025, while Opel/Vauxhall revealed its Movano Hydrogen.

Golding also stressed that fuelling is a definite issue but pointed out the investment in hydrogen for trucks and other larger commercial vehicles, so “there is potential synergy there”.

“Given that hydrogen refuelling is just like filling up a diesel van, there doesn’t need to be thousands of pumps but there do need to be a sufficient number in good locations.

“It would be useful for the new government to recognise the potential of hydrogen and take more of a structured lead in this area, and we hope to see some movement here soon.”