Ford is leading research into hydrogen for vans

In a bid to match refuelling times to those van drivers are already accustomed to and simultaneously meet zero emissions standards, Ford’s decided hydrogen could be the answer.

A consortium of six automotive players, including and led by Ford, is researching hydrogen fuel cells for commercial vehicles. This UK-based prototype fleet is being run as a wider alternative fuel release project.

It makes sense. After all, those guys are doing the high mileage heavy load and often specialist transit, e.g. carting our chilled stuff about. They don’t have time to splash-and-dash the electric plug-in power multiple times a day.

Ford Pro commercial experts, with some funding from the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) and the help of BP, Ocado Retail, Cambustion, Viritech and Cygnet Texkimp will convert a test fleet of E-Transits in Dagenham and Dunton. They'll then use the pilot to figure out what works and what is needed – particularly when it comes to infrastructure.

Indeed, infrastructure has always been hydrogen’s biggest obstacle. It’s super expensive to set up a hydrogen refuelling station. Not least because – unless you want the ironic task of sending diesel-fuelled tankers to drop off the hydrogen – you’ll want to make the hydrogen on-site. That’s costly.

What’s more, if the roll-out of the electric charging network is anything to go by, it’ll be a few more decades before the commercial vehicle industry has anything like what it needs.

That said, hydrogen is already used in trains, buses and warehouse logistics vehicles. Tim Slatter, chair of Ford in Britain, said: “Ford believes that the primary application of fuel cells could be in its largest, heaviest CVs to ensure they are emission-free, while satisfying the high daily energy requirements our customers demand.

"We are excited to be exploring new ways to make clean deliveries an option for even our hardest working vans on the road.”