First Hydrogen’s hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicle has achieved its highest-ever mileage under trials run with Wales & West Utilities (WWU).

The First Hydrogen van completed more than 1,200 miles over the four-week trial

The first-of-its-kind van completed more than 1,200 miles (2,000 km) over the four-week trial, travelling up to 117 miles (189km) per day on mostly urban roads and highways in some of South Wales’ coldest conditions. It’s the latest evidence of the van’s long driving range, after it was previously shown to offer a 400-mile range in SSE trials.

The WWU trials also demonstrated the full power capability of the fuel cell module, with outputs higher than 60kW in transient accelerations, showing capability for demanding duties, such as carrying heavier payloads, towing and powering auxiliary equipment (onboard power).

The trial had already shown there was no decrease in vehicle performance or range when operating in colder temperatures – it also proved that hydrogen mobility is still possible for fleet operators without access to fixed hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, thanks to a re-deployable hydrogen refuelling unit supplied under a collaboration between Protium Green Solutions and Hyppo Hydrogen Solutions.

The FCEV was piloted by two drivers from WWU’s Network Emergency & Metering Services team, which is responsible for emergency metering work for more than 7.5 million customers across Wales and the south west of England.

Most of the vehicle’s journeys were travelling to customer callouts, averaging 5-6 visits per day. The team has to respond quickly to calls and often covers long distances while transporting the bulky equipment needed for repairs.

Alun Jones, first call operative (FCO) for WWU and driver in First Hydrogen’s trials, said: “First Hydrogen’s van is lovely to drive and allowed us to get on with our job. The fact you can quickly refuel rather than charge up overnight is a massive advantage for us as sometimes we respond to calls from our homes in the middle of the night. I can definitely see the hydrogen vans working at WWU in terms of the efficiency we need.”

WWU is exploring zero-emission vehicle technology to suit its operational requirements and the trials provided the transport team with the opportunity to experience the benefits of a FCEV first-hand.

Steve Morgan, who also tested the vehicle, commented: “Our van is everything for us; it’s our office and it’s how we transport our equipment and charge our laptops and phones so we can respond to call outs. Therefore, we need vehicles that are comfortable and reliable and that can carry everything we need. We do a lot of miles so also need the range.”

Stephen Offley, transport manager for WWU, added: “We are impressed with how the van operates and its overall performance – particularly as this is a prototype vehicle and we were breaking new ground by creating our own hydrogen vehicle ecosystem. Testing the vehicle with our FCOs meant we could demonstrate its use in a front-line service role and provide credible findings for us to share with our stakeholders and other fleet managers. The data generated from the trials also gives us a case to push for fixed hydrogen infrastructure in the area so we can benefit from faster refuelling and operational simplicity.”

The trials have provided First Hydrogen and WWU with important data that will help to inform future development.

Steve Gill, executive director automotive, First Hydrogen, said: “Having covered more miles in a single trial than ever before, we have generated a significant amount of vehicle data. Sharing the van between two drivers, neither of whom has driven a zero-emission vehicle before, has given us insight into how different driving styles can affect performance. By reviewing this data and speaking to the WWU team, we have identified further opportunities to improve fuel consumption and optimise efficiency.

“We have also gained valuable data, which enables us to model total cost of operation (TCO), key information for fleet operators considering a transition to hydrogen fuel. We have presented our initial findings to the WWU board who responded positively and are keen to progress with next steps.”

More details on First Hydrogen’s FCEV trials with Wales & West Utilities are revealed here.