The Hydrogen Energy Association (HEA), Road Haulage Association (RHA) and the Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) are calling on the UK Government to act swiftly to ensure hydrogen remains an option for decarbonising heavy transport.
In a joint letter sent to government ahead of the forthcoming refresh of the UK Hydrogen Strategy, the three organisations highlighted hydrogen’s potential to play a “critical role in delivering a practical and affordable pathway to net zero for high-utilisation and hard-to-electrify land transport applications”.
This would include HGVs, long-distance coaches, utility vans, construction plant, emergency service fleets, and parts of the rail sector.
The letter follows a recent cross-sector workshop convened by the HEA, which brought together vehicle operators, technology providers, financiers, and industry associations.
Participants claimed that battery-electric solutions alone are “not sufficient” to meet the operational requirements of the heavy transport sector, and “urgent action is required” on hydrogen.
They found that relative to its population size, the UK has significantly fewer hydrogen refuelling stations than the European average: the UK currently has fewer than six in regular operation, compared to around 100 across Europe.
At least 12 to 13 strategically located stations along key freight corridors, plus focussed support for back-to-base hubs, are urgently needed, to make sure the UK is not left behind.
In their recommendations, the HEA, RHA, and CPA have called on government to:
- Recognise hydrogen’s economic and strategic value for energy security, industrial growth, and decarbonisation, with consistent cross-departmental messaging.
- Publish a national roadmap for hydrogen fuel and refuelling infrastructure to provide market certainty and attract private investment.
- Introduce hydrogen demand targets to stimulate supply chains and support security of supply.
- Create mechanisms to bridge the early cost gap between hydrogen fuel and diesel.
- Ensure all hydrogen transport solutions, including internal combustion engine hydrogen, are supported under the ZEV mandate and other net zero policies.
Dr Emma Guthrie, CEO of the HEA, said:
“Hydrogen is not just an energy solution – it is an economic opportunity. With the right policy support, the UK can decarbonise heavy transport without compromising productivity, while also creating jobs, strengthening energy security, and positioning itself as a global leader in hydrogen technology.”
Richard Smith, Managing Director, RHA, said:
“HGV and coach operators face a challenging pathway to decarbonise their fleets. As the market for zero emission vehicle technologies develops to meet the UK’s net zero targets, it is essential that all technology options remain on the table, including hydrogen and the use of low carbon fuels. This is particularly critical for hard-to-decarbonise use cases, such as transporting very heavy goods.”
Luis Bassett, Decarbonisation and Sustainability Manager at the CPA, said:
“When it comes to decarbonising construction machinery nobody can predict the future, but it’s clear that there will be a mix of technologies at play.
“There are significant challenges to all alternative fuels, but hydrogen shows significant potential, particularly in off-grid locations and residual value on the international market. The UK must support both hydrogen fuel cell and combustion, to help the UK progress and reduce its dependence on diesel, maximising options to move away from fossil fuels.”
