Skip advert
Advertisement

Stop the fixation on electric cars and give alternative fuels, like hydrogen, a chance in 2025

Chris Rosamond explains why we should keep an open mind about future fuels

Opinion - hydrogen

The UK should follow the lead of the European Union, and announce that we’ll match its commitment to at least one hydrogen filling station located every 120 miles on major roads.

The EU deadline to achieve that is 2031; here in the UK, policy makers don’t support any role for green hydrogen apart from using it to decarbonise heavy industrial processes like steel-making. If nothing changes, we’ll be watching enviously from the sidelines as firms from Germany and Asia roll out new-generation hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles in the coming years. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

The UK’s exclusive focus on battery-powered electric vehicles looks increasingly like tunnel vision, the closer we get to the deadlines. It ignores other low-carbon technologies for road transport being pursued actively elsewhere too, including bio and e-fuels

The trouble starts with the Government asking mandarins for policies that drive the UK to net zero fastest, resulting in the planet’s most challenging targets for EV conversion. But in the real world outside Whitehall, consumers clearly aren’t so single-minded. Other countries supporting alternative green road fuels alongside battery EVs have the benefit of eggs in more than one basket, and any technologies which could help to make the net zero transition smoother – and more realistically achieved – need to be actively supported.

UK policy on hydrogen is that diverting any of the currently low global supplies of the genuinely ‘green’ stuff away from the furnaces of heavy industry to road transport would be inefficient use of a scarce low carbon resource.

It seems to me astonishingly short-sighted, when so much cash is being pledged for renewable hydrogen production and storage projects around the globe.

Here's everything you need to know about hydrogen cars...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Current affairs and features editor

Chris covers all aspects of motoring life for Auto Express. Over a long career he has contributed news and car reviews to brands such as Autocar, WhatCar?, PistonHeads, Goodwood and The Motor Trader.

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

A new breed of EVs? EU paves the way for small, affordable electric cars
Dacia Spring vs Leapmotor T03 - head to head static

A new breed of EVs? EU paves the way for small, affordable electric cars

The new Small Affordable Car initiative would lower electric car prices and make them more accessible to more buyers
News
11 Sep 2025
Trip to France shows how horribly UK drivers are treated
Opinion - driving in France

Trip to France shows how horribly UK drivers are treated

Editor Paul Barker’s recent holiday was a surprisingly educational one
Opinion
10 Sep 2025
Best winter tyres 2025
Winter tyre test 2025 - header image, tyres next to a Volkswagen Golf

Best winter tyres 2025

Our testers warmed to the task of finding the best cold-weather rubber for your car
Product group tests
10 Sep 2025
New 2027 Smart #2 to feature bespoke chassis, with help from Mercedes and Geely
New Smart #2 teaser from Munich Motor Show 2025 - front, in a wooden crate

New 2027 Smart #2 to feature bespoke chassis, with help from Mercedes and Geely

Smart sees its new city car as core to its existence, so will pull out all the stops to make the new two-seat EV a gamechanger
News
8 Sep 2025

Most Popular

New Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport 2025 review: an incredibly capable hot hatch but there's a catch
Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport - front tracking

New Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport 2025 review: an incredibly capable hot hatch but there's a catch

The hottest front-wheel-drive Golf has sharpened up its act in Mk8.5 form, but it's not as fun as we'd like it to be
Road tests
11 Sep 2025
Farewell Volkswagen ID.4, hello ID. Tiguan
VW ID. Tiguan front 3/4 Avarvarii

Farewell Volkswagen ID.4, hello ID. Tiguan

Heavy update for EV will bring with it a fresh, but familiar, name
News
12 Sep 2025
New Honda Civic facelift 2025 review: subtle tweaks boost its appeal
Honda Civic facelift - front

New Honda Civic facelift 2025 review: subtle tweaks boost its appeal

The Honda Civic was already a great car, but updates for 2025 have elevated it even higher
Road tests
11 Sep 2025