HGV designed to slash carbon emissions could hit market by 2025

Glasgow-based HVS hopes its vehicle can help slash carbon emissions on UK roads.

Glasgow-built HGV designed to slash carbon emissions could hit market by 2025 HVS

A Glasgow firm has developed the UK’s first hydrogen-powered HGV which could slash carbon emissions from commercial vehicles.

HVS hopes to replace the inefficient battery systems on current large goods vehicles with hydrogen fuel cell of its own design, allowing net zero haulage to locations across the country.

The company, founded in the city in 2017, unveiled the prototype last month, but the project has now been boosted by an additional £30m in funding from the advanced propulsion centre (APC).

It is hoped the vehicles, which will all be built in the UK, could go on sale by 2025.

The UK Government plans to ban the sales of all non-zero emission HGV’s – ranging form 3.5 to 26 tonnes – by 2035 or earlier and curtail the sales of all non-zero emission articulated lorries over by 2040.

The APC receives the majority of its £73m funding from the UK Government and industry leaders.

HVS chief executive Jawad Khursheed said the award represented “a major milestone” in the development of the project.

He added: “The UK Government performed rigorous due diligence in selecting HVS to receive this grant – acknowledging that our advanced technology is a key innovation towards achieving zero-emission targets.

“We have successfully produced our first driving fuel cell technology demonstrator vehicle and are on track to deliver the UK’s first-to-market hydrogen fuel cell-powered HGV.

“We have experienced rapid growth at HVS in as little as a year, now with this Government support we will boost innovation, create thousands of UK-based jobs, and build upon our goal towards cleaner HGVs.”

The 5.5-tonne prototype took ten months to fully build and showcases a smaller version of the technology eventually hoped to be used in full-sized vehicles.

HGV vehicles contribute a disproportionate amount of emissions per mileage of other UK vehicles, releasing around 18% of the total for 5% of the distance covered.

Business Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Seizing the potential from new technologies will be a key part of its future success, while also making our roads cleaner, greener and more affordable.

“Today’s multi-million-pound boost – created by Government working hand-in-hand with industry – will put these firms in pole position to pioneer these innovations, staying at the cutting edge of the global race for decades to come.”

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