Why hydrogen is so important, especially for fleets
By Brenda Shanahan at ZeroMission
It’s not every day you hear a global automaker publicly say they’re skipping the UK but that’s exactly what happened last week.
At a major hydrogen summit, BMW’s head of hydrogen technology, Juergen Guldner, told the industry that BMW won’t launch its new hydrogen fuel cell model in the UK. Why? Quite simply, there’s nowhere to fill up.
Meanwhile, over in Europe, the European Union has made its position crystal clear: by 2030, drivers on main roads should find a hydrogen filling station every 200 kilometres (approximately 124 miles). It’s bold, it’s practical and it gives the entire supply chain confidence to plan, invest and deliver.
If the UK doesn’t match that ambition, they risk losing out on a vital piece of the zero-emission transport puzzle.
Hydrogen vehicles aren’t just a futuristic idea they’re here, and for many fleet operators, they could be the practical answer they’ve been waiting for.
Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are proving their worth every day they’re fantastic for cars, local vans and buses running predictable urban routes with access to depot charging. But for operators moving heavy loads over long distances, or serving rural routes where downtime must be kept to an absolute minimum, BEVs can’t yet do the job without compromise.
This is where hydrogen comes in. Take Vauxhall’s new hydrogen van: 250 miles of real-world range and a 5-minute refill that’s practically like running on diesel but without the tailpipe emissions. For fleets, this means no scheduling headaches, no extended stops for charging, and no concerns about payload eating into range.
But without hydrogen stations, this brilliant technology stays stuck on the drawing board. Operators simply won’t take the risk of stranded assets.
BMW’s warning: believe it
BMW’s announcement isn’t just one brand bowing out; it’s a clear signal to every other OEM and fleet operator watching the UK market. If the infrastructure isn’t there, manufacturers will divert their vehicles to other regions that have done the groundwork. Europe’s hydrogen corridor plan guarantees that Germany, France and other major economies won’t be left behind; the UK cannot afford to watch this happen from the sidelines.
Hydrogen trucks, buses and vans are being tested, piloted and rolled out in parts of Europe right now. Major energy companies are investing in refuelling hubs that support haulage depots, logistics parks and bus garages. These investments bring jobs, local economic activity and a clear path to decarbonisation all benefits the UK could lose if we’re not ready to compete.
Recent policy changes: a chance to act wisely
The updated Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate, which extends compliance timelines for manufacturers, has given industry a bit of breathing room. But relaxing targets alone doesn’t guarantee progress. This breathing room must be matched with serious, visible government action to build the backbone that zero-emission fleets rely on — infrastructure.
Hydrogen is a critical part of that backbone.
