FCH JU backs major rollout

A major project backed by the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) is supporting the deployment of hundreds of green vehicles across Europe.

The venture, entitled Hydrogen Mobility Europe, is expected to realise the rollout of around 200 fuel cell electric vehicles in addition to 125 fuel cell extended range electric commercial vans.

It is also intended that 29 new hydrogen-refuelling stations will be established throughout Europe. It’s anticipated that the efforts will help to increase the commercial exploitation of hydrogen transport. Ten European states are expected to benefit from the venture by 2019.

The project consortium is led by a UK energy consultancy firm, Element Energy, and sees the participation of car manufacturers Daimler and Nissan, as well as SymbioFCell. The venture is partly supported by the FCH JU and is receiving €32m from the Horizon 2020 public private partnership.

In comments to ii Energy, project co-ordinator and Element Energy director Ben Madden said: “A huge international effort over the past two decades has developed hydrogen vehicle technology to the point where it is technically ready for market introduction.

“Hydrogen Mobility Europe will allow a widespread demonstration of the readiness of the technology, as well as developing valuable insights about the early customer experience and practical challenges of a widespread rollout of the technology.”

Other businesses involved in the project are infrastructure providers Air Liquide and BOC.