Although the partnership includes preferred supplier status for both parties, Gemini and Intelligent Energy will work independently on the project, and will be able to seek other partners in the field. The project is aimed at giving manufacturers a single source for the design, engineering and implementation of hydrogen fuel cell drivetrains.

Intelligent Energy will supply its proprietary fuel cell system (pictured), which is on test in a fleet of London taxis, while Ricardo will add its knowledge of product development, engineering, consulting and clean technology to the partnership.

Mark Garrett, Ricardo chief operating officer, said: ‘Ricardo is actively engaged in hybrid electric and fuel cell electric vehicle programmes and we are receiving many enquiries in this area from vehicle manufacturers around the world. Having worked successfully with Intelligent Energy on many previous projects, we look forward to even closer collaboration where this meets the requirements of our respective customers.’

James Batchelor, managing director of Intelligent Energy’s Automotive Division, added: ‘Our cost-effective and scalable systems and platforms have already proven themselves across our target market sectors and we are increasingly asked to deploy our high efficiency, zero emission powertrains into vehicle and fleet trials, ahead of automotive market commercialization.’