Did you know, zero emission vehicles are set to become mandatory in the UK by 2035, with the government requiring 100% of new cars and vans sold in the UK to be zero emission? The UK transport secretary announced in December 2023 that a £70 million scheme will be used to create ultra-rapid electric vehicle charge points, increasing provisions for electric cars and other vehicles. This has recently caused a spike in interest in zero emission vehicles.
Find out more about the options for 2025 below.
Greener vehicle options
There are 2 different types of zero emission vehicles: battery electric vehicles and fuel cell electric vehicles.
Battery electric vehicles are currently more popular than hydrogen-based vehicles, but the upcoming legislation provides plenty of potential for hydrogen options to gain popularity.
The Toyota Mirai is the first mass produced hydrogen powered car and claims to have a range of 402 miles. Toyota also aim to power an entire community with hydrogen fuel cells this year with ‘Toyota’s Woven City’. This is a prototype city at the base of Mount Fuji, demonstrating innovation outside of the vehicle manufacturing industry too.
The Hyundai Nexo offers a range of 414 miles and has been developed to start in temperatures as low as -30°C, making it ideal for the colder climates and promising efficiency and aesthetic appeal.
Other car manufacturers have announced plans to introduce hydrogen powered cars in the future, including the iX5 Hydrogen from BMW and the Scenic Vision from Renault. This shows car manufacturers’ commitment to the future of zero emission vehicles, although at this point in time they are concepts and not widely available.
What is the difference between fuel cell electric cars and battery electric cars?
Hydrogen fuel cells produce their own electricity, whereas standard electric cars are powered by batteries which store electricity as a result of being charged.
Within fuel cells, hydrogen is combined with oxygen from the ambient air. This then generates electricity to power the vehicle. Hydrogen is produced centrally and delivered in hydrogen refuelling stations, similar to petrol and diesel.
Take a look at our in-depth comparison of PEM fuel cells vs batteries for electric cars here.
How do I refuel zero emission vehicles?
There are more than 1000 hydrogen refuelling stations dotted around the globe, with hundreds added every year, supporting drivers with fuel cell electric vehicles. The process of refuelling at one of these hydrogen stations is not too different from that of a conventional petrol or diesel station. The fuel is pumped into the vehicle’s tank, which then powers the fuel cell, generating the electricity needed to drive the vehicle.
Benefits of zero emission vehicles
Hydrogen powered cars, much like electric cars, are quiet, and do not emit carbon dioxide or other harmful substances out of their exhausts. A key benefit they have over electric cars is refuelling time. Hydrogen powered cars can be refuelled in less than 5 minutes, whereas electric cars can take hours to be fully charged.
IE-DRIVE
Here at Intelligent Energy, we are proud to present the IE-DRIVE, our newest high-power solution for zero emission vehicles. Not only does this fuel cell module provide clean power for automotive use, it also has rail and marine applications. The range includes the IE-DRIVE 100 which is designed for cars, and the IE-DRIVE HD100 which is better suited for buses and trucks.
FAQs about zero emissions vehicles
Greg Harris, Chief Commercial Officer at IE, answers our most frequently asked questions on zero emissions vehicles below:
What is the zero-emission vehicle mandate?
The Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate is a regulatory policy designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by enforcing legislation on car manufacturers to sell a certain percentage of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), such as electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCEVs).
This mandate is being adopted by governments around the globe with a push to reduce the number of fossil fuel vehicles on the roads.
Can I still drive my petrol car after 2035?
Regulations are being put in place to phase out the manufacturing and sale of petrol and diesel vehicles meaning you will not be able to buy a new petrol or diesel car in the near future. This however, doesn’t stop current owners of these vehicles from having their cars on the road. You will still be allowed to own and drive petrol or diesel cars, though with charges levied in zero-emission zones adding to the cost, and likely increased taxation on those fuels to help with the push towards zero-emission vehicles.
With manufacturers only being able to sell zero-emission cars from 2035 onwards, there will become a point where petrol and diesel variations reach end of life and will slowly disappear from our roads. The availability of petrol and diesel fuel may also phase out or become much more costly to discourage the use of these vehicles.
What will happen to petrol stations when cars go electric?
Owning a petrol or diesel car could become less convenient or economical over time, with OEMs and governments encouraging the adoption of zero-emission vehicles. Therefore, as more cars go electric, petrol stations will gradually change to suit the demands of the road.
We are already seeing many petrol stations installing EV chargers and in high-EV adoption zones, they could be completely eradicated. On the other hand, in rural areas where EV adoption is lower, the phasing out of petrol stations will be much slower.
In reality petrol stations would be better converted to hydrogen refuelling stations as the refuelling process is very similar to petrol or diesel.
How do you fuel a hydrogen fuel cell car?
Fueling a hydrogen fuel cell car is much like refuelling a traditional gaseoline vehicle. The user will drive to a forecourt, attach the hydrogen nozzle to the car and secure the connection to enable compressed hydrogen gas to pass into the tank. The hydrogen will dispense and fill the tank within about 5 minutes.
To find out more about how Intelligent Energy can help you and how our products can be implemented into zero emission vehicles, please get in touch with us today. Complete our contact form.