Hydrogen-powered van starts tests with energy firm SSE

14th July 2023

Energy firm SSE has taken delivery of a hydrogen-powered van from First Hydrogen to understand the potential of the fuel in a real-world setting.

The trial, which SSE revealed it would be taking part in last month, will enable the company to evaluate the benefits of hydrogen alongside its growing fleet of electric engineering and maintenance vehicles as an alternative to fossil fuels.

The light commercial vehicle (LCV) has spent the past few weeks operating from one of SSE’s sites in Aberdeen, which is located next to a hydrogen fuel station.

After two days’ training, four SSE drivers have been using the First Hydrogen’s vehicle to carry the equipment and tools which play a key part in the engineers’ day-to-day job.

Will Hannaford, a driver for SSE, told Commercial Fleet: “First Hydrogen’s van is very pleasing to drive and is much smoother than my diesel vehicles.

“The zero-emission van will obviously improve the environmental impact of our day-to-day operations, but it has the additional benefit of performing well in city driving and recharging its battery during use, which gives it an impressive range.”

Another SSE driver, Angus Burrows, added: “Having learnt about operating a hydrogen-powered vehicle in the pre-trial training, I was excited to use the First Hydrogen’s van.

“It was also exciting to see how much work had gone into developing the vehicle and my enthusiasm has continued throughout the trial – I still find myself speaking about the vehicle in my day-to-day conversations.”