Jon Hall 22 03 22

Fleet operators face a decarbonisation challenge that requires different solutions for different applications. Range demands. Payload considerations. Refuelling infrastructure. Operating environments.

Often, a single technology cannot fit every operational requirement.

Hydrogen combustion offers one answer within that mix. Not a universal solution, but a practical option for specific duty cycles and operational profiles.

UK research partnerships with institutions including Brunel and Nottingham universities have solved the core technical challenges, moving the technology from laboratory to demonstration phase. Companies have validated commercial vehicle applications, and global OEMs are actively developing hydrogen engines.

For fleet operators, this engineering maturity translates to practical advantages: zero tailpipe emissions, refuelling times comparable to diesel where infrastructure exists, and the ability to repower existing platforms rather than scrapping serviceable assets. These characteristics offer genuine value for operations managing extended vehicle lifecycles.

Different technologies excel in different applications. Battery electric is proving highly effective for urban delivery, depot-based operations with predictable routes, and applications where overnight charging works operationally. Those use cases suit the technology’s characteristics well. Hydrogen combustion may offer advantages for specific heavy-duty applications where operational requirements align differently - particularly where rapid turnaround, extended range, or certain payload profiles matter for the specific operation.

The total cost of ownership equation varies by operation and will continue evolving. Hydrogen costs more than diesel currently. Green hydrogen production is scaling globally and costs are declining. Infrastructure development is the critical enabler - both for hydrogen refuelling networks and for the grid capacity and charging infrastructure that battery electric requires. Different operators face different infrastructure realities depending on their routes and operational bases.

The engineering case builds on familiarity. Hydrogen combustion leverages existing internal combustion engine expertise. Maintenance procedures look familiar to technicians who’ve spent careers working on diesel engines. Retrofit capabilities can extend the working life of existing platforms, managing capital expenditure across longer timeframes. Training requirements use existing skills. That continuity reduces some deployment risks.

The UK government’s current hydrogen strategy appears to prioritise industrial applications, power generation, and renewable energy storage. These sectors represent significant decarbonisation opportunities and may offer more straightforward pathways for initial hydrogen deployment. However, transport applications also sit within this broader hydrogen economy context.vie

What operators need is clarity on how transport applications fit within that strategy. Will hydrogen combustion engines be recognised within clean fuel classifications for on-road use? What long-term framework will govern hydrogen vehicles? Clear answers enable planning over five, seven, and ten-year fleet investment horizons.

The government continues to invest in hydrogen research and infrastructure development across multiple sectors. As that hydrogen economy develops for industrial and energy applications, transport may benefit from the supply chains, infrastructure, and cost reductions that emerge. Clarity on the regulatory framework for transport applications would help operators understand when and how hydrogen options might become commercially viable for their specific operations.

It’s likely that battery electric will continue to dominate many transport segments. After all, urban delivery, predictable short-haul, and depot-based operations are seeing successful deployments. However, the UK’s HGV sector also includes diverse applications, and some businesses will find that hydrogen offers advantages as infrastructure develops and costs evolve.

Hydrogen combustion complements other technologies rather than competing with them. For operators managing diverse fleets, having multiple technology options available creates flexibility to deploy the most appropriate solution for each application as both battery electric and hydrogen technologies mature and infrastructure develops.

UK engineering expertise in hydrogen combustion is world-class. The technical development is well advanced. Commercial deployment depends on infrastructure development, cost evolution, and regulatory clarity. As the broader hydrogen economy develops for industrial and energy applications, transport operators need clear frameworks to evaluate when and where hydrogen makes sense for their specific operational requirements.

Jonathan Hall, head of research and advanced engineering, MAHLE Powertrain