Jaguar Land Rover have revealed that they will be testing hydrogen fuel cells as an alternative power solution later this year.
The iconic British brands will test the solution in an as-yet unnamed prototype based on the new Land Rover Defender. Project Zeus, as it has been named, sees JLR aiming to deliver zero tailpipe emissions by 2036 and the company have worked on the hydrogen project in partnership with the UK government’s Advanced Propulsion Centre.
Jaguar Land Rover are on the fast-track to electric and low emission vehicles and have set aside £2.5bn a year of investment as they look to convert their range - Jaguar will be halting production on ICE cars by 2025 and Land Rover stopping sales of combustion engines in the UK by 2030.
“We know hydrogen has a role to play in the future powertrain mix across the whole transport industry, and alongside battery electric vehicles, it offers another zero tailpipe emission solution for the specific capabilities and requirements of Jaguar Land Rover’s world class line-up of vehicles,” said Ralph Clague, head of Hydrogen and Fuel Cells for Jaguar Land Rover,
“The work done alongside our partners in Project Zeus will help us on our journey to become a net zero carbon business by 2039, as we prepare for the next generation of zero tailpipe emissions vehicles.”
The potential for hydrogen has made headlines recently, with Boris Johnson announced a £500m fund to support low-carbon hydrogen production over the next ten years. Meanwhile, Toyota, one of the pioneers of FCEV technology completed a landmark drive last month when they completed a 1000km drive on a single tank of fuel.