Oxfordshire Council Funds Hydrogen Emergency Services Programme
Key Ideas
- Oxfordshire County Council has allocated £825,500 for a hydrogen-powered emergency services project, including a fire engine, ambulance, and road sweeper.
- UlemCo will lead the £8m initiative to develop hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, with support from Fuel Cell Systems for equipment.
- The project aims to integrate hydrogen fuel cell range extenders into electric vehicles, utilizing existing technology to showcase zero-emission capabilities.
- ULEMCo's focus on hydrogen dual-fuel technology addresses barriers to hydrogen demand in transportation, providing immediate solutions to reduce diesel's harmful effects.
Oxfordshire County Council has granted £825,500 to establish refuelling infrastructure for a hydrogen-powered emergency services program. The initiative, titled the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Range Extended Fire Engine Prototype (Hyer Power), will trial three fuel cell-powered vehicles, including a fire engine, ambulance, and road sweeper. UlemCo, the lead partner in this £8 million project, will use the funding to develop essential hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, with support from Fuel Cell Systems. The goal is to integrate hydrogen fuel cell range extender modules into electric vehicles for emergency services duties, demonstrating the potential of zero-emission vehicles. UlemCo, based in Liverpool, focuses on hydrogen dual-fuel technology to overcome barriers hindering hydrogen adoption in transport. Their approach allows for rapid conversion of existing vehicle designs to run on hydrogen, contributing to reducing the harmful effects of diesel fuel while zero-emission options are developed.