Drivers to benefit from revolutionary hydrogen fuel cell that promises to 'shake up' the car industry

The single stack platform, which is the first of its kind, has a fuel cell capable of creating 157kW gross electrical power.

The £22million initiative was formed by Intelligent Energy, Changan R&D Centre, Lyra Electronics and Alexander Dennis.

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David Woolhouse, Intelligent Energy’s chief executive, said: “With 25 per cent of all passenger cars expected to have hydrogen fuel cell powertrains, this clean technology represents the future.

“I’m proud that, as an independent and privately-owned company, Intelligent Energy has developed a breakthrough solution that can open up the market for passenger car manufacturers that need to package a more powerful system into their vehicles.

“Our DRIVE product has the potential to shake up the hydrogen fuel cell market and accelerate the transition towards zero-emission mobility.

“As a business we are looking to grow our capability as a tier one supplier. Fuel cell manufacturing will be a major driver of economic growth.”

The hydrogen fuel cell market for passenger cars and vans is anticipated to be worth £596billion by 2040.

Jane Hunt, MP for Loughborough, added that the city is in “pole position” for hydrogen development with Intelligent Energy at the forefront of fuel cell vehicle technology.

Meanwhile, Nusrat Ghani, the Minister of State for Industry and Economic Security at the Department for Business and Trade, said the technology breakthrough is key for pushing the UK forward.

Hydrogen trials have been taking place across the UK, with companies eager to offer drivers more technologically advanced vehicles.

In one case, an emergency van trial run by First Hydrogen broke records by completing more than 1,200 miles over four weeks, travelling up to 117 miles per day on urban roads and highways in South Wales.

The vehicle, which was powered by a hydrogen engine, had an output higher than 60kW and could carry heavier payloads when towing. It can also power auxiliary equipment.

The trial highlighted no drop in vehicle performance or range when operating in colder temperatures.

During the trial, most of the vehicle’s journeys involved travelling to customer callouts, averaging between five and six visits per day.

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Intelligent Energy revealed it is now ready to roll its technology out to the passenger car market.