The two Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell vehicles are being used by TfL’s bus operational management team to undertake a number of tasks including checking bus route diversions and carrying out site meetings. 

The implementation of the vehicles follows the recent £6.6m infrastructure development plan announced by the UK's Department for Business, Innovation & Skills. 

Tony Akers, TfL’s bus operations manager, said: “TfL already has one of the cleanest bus fleets in Europe and we are constantly looking at ways that we can use innovation and technology to improve the air quality in London.  This includes looking beyond just the bus fleet and looking at how we can be more environmentally friendly across the board.”

The two vehicles have been purchased by TfL as part of the HyTEC project, which aims to create three new European hydrogen passenger vehicle deployment centres in London, Copenhagen and Oslo to demonstrate the day to day use of hydrogen vehicles and encourage their mainstream use by the public.  

Diana Raine, HyTEC’s co-ordinator and Air Products’ Hydrogen Energy business manager, said: “Based on projected uptake figures, FCEVs could reduce UK annual total vehicle CO2 emissions by three million tonnes in 2030.  That’s why, as specialists in this area, HyTEC partners are pleased to be working together with TfL as we help decarbonise road transport through hydrogen buses and now cars. Not only will this technology provide environmental health benefits to the people of London but also help improve the Capital’s air quality.”