Press Release

Mayor's vision for transport in London is hydrogen
27-2-2006   126

The Mayor of London aims to introduce 70 new hydrogen vehicles to London by 2010 and is asking the transport industry to get ready to deliver the necessary vehicles and refueling technology.

Hydrogen provides an efficient and clean form of power. When fed through a fuel cell, water vapour is the only exhaust emission.  Currently there are three hydrogen fuel cell buses being successfully trialed in London and the Mayor is committed to rolling out more hydrogen-fuelled vehicles in the capital. This is part of the London Hydrogen Partnership’s ‘London Hydrogen Transport Programme’ to make London a leader in clean technologies.

Work has already started to achieve this: Transport for London has begun the procurement process for 10 new hydrogen-fuelled buses. The Mayor is working with the Metropolitan Police Authority and London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, as well as Transport for London, to deliver and run the other sixty hydrogen vehicles.

Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said: ‘Hydrogen fuel cells could offer a real alternative to diesel in the future. The high cost of the vehicles is the major barrier at the moment but the greater the demand for vehicles, the more the costs will come down. I would call on the manufacturers to gear up for this change, as hydrogen vehicles are a real and viable option for London.’

Deputy Mayor Nicky Gavron, Chairs of the London Hydrogen Partnership, said: ‘I am pleased that the Mayor has agreed to support the London Hydrogen Partnership’s ambitious transport programme. This will move London to a position of leadership on this issue in Europe and around the world, and sends a strong signal to industry that London is the place to come to deliver hydrogen vehicles. The London Hydrogen Partnership is looking to join up with other cities and regions in the world to speed up development of this technology.’

The hydrogen fuel cell bus trial has been extended until the end of this year and following a successful planning application process Hornchurch will continue to provide service as a refuelling station.

Other London Hydrogen Partnership projects the Mayor has been involved with include a clean hydrogen generator used to power the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree lights in 2004, and laser messages projected onto Nelsons Column in 2005.

Notes to Editors

Notes to editors
1. The London Hydrogen Partnership is working towards a hydrogen economy for London. It is chaired by the Deputy Mayor of London, and its members include: Air Products, Association of London Government, Baxi Group, BMW, BOC, BP, Carbon Trust, DTI, Energy Saving Trust, Greater London Authority, Health and Safety Executive, Imperial College, Intelligent Energy, Johnson Matthey, London Climate Change Agency, London Development Agency, London First, Rolls-Royce, Thames Water and Transport for London. Further information is available at www.lhp.org.uk
2. For details on the procurement process for Transport for London’s vehicles go to www.tfl.gov.uk/

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