The closure of the ambitious HyHAUL ZEHID project has dealt a substantial blow to hopes that hydrogen could offer a viable near-term route to decarbonising the UK’s heaviest road freight operations. Although it delivered on four out of five work packages, the project was discontinued after failing to secure binding customer orders for fuel cell HGVs within Innovate UK’s funding deadlines.
The HyHAUL team, supported by government backing and a robust industry consortium, proposed the most extensive hydrogen HGV trial in the UK to date. Its aim was to deploy up to 30 zero-emission trucks facilitated by a new hydrogen refuelling corridor along the M4. However, the project faltered on a common obstacle—commercial adoption.
While over 100 potential customers were engaged and expressions of interest secured, none advanced to full contractual commitments within the funding period. HyHAUL emphasised that this was more due to inflexible grant conditions than to market rejection of hydrogen itself.
Yet, for many in the industry, the message remains clear.
One senior industry figure suggested the outcome signifies that “realism won” over theoretical models. The issue, they argued, was not a lack of effort or intent but a disconnect between the commercial model and how hauliers actually purchase vehicles and energy. Hydrogen’s promise remains abstract, especially as battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) are making rapid progress in range, cost-efficiency, and operational readiness.
The RHA has expressed concern at the project’s conclusion, describing it as a “setback” in the effort to decarbonise long-haul freight. Managing Director Richard Smith mentioned that HyHAUL was well-placed to serve hard-to-electrify operations and that its loss reduces options for meeting upcoming diesel phase-out deadlines.
The broader lesson is that hydrogen, while technically appealing for specific freight applications, still faces significant economic and infrastructural challenges. Industry sources also pointed out that the programme’s rigid timelines left little room for iterative customer engagement or adaptable deployment strategies—an issue that will need to be addressed in future demonstrator schemes.
Jamie Sands, a logistics innovation leader, noted that HyHAUL was not a simple trial — it demonstrated real-world integration of trucks, infrastructure, and supply — but ultimately revealed the structural gaps in hydrogen’s case for freight mobility.
With the government upholding its zero-emission targets for HGVs and operators still seeking scalable alternatives to diesel, the collapse of HyHAUL may serve less as a failure and more as a diagnostic. What hydrogen still lacks, despite engineering progress, is a viable business model that operators can genuinely invest in.
What Was the HyHAUL ZEHID Project?
HyHAUL (Zero Emission Hydrogen Infrastructure for Transport – ZEHID) was one of the UK’s most advanced hydrogen HGV demonstrator programmes, backed by Innovate UK and the Department for Transport.
The project aimed to prove the commercial and operational viability of hydrogen-powered heavy goods vehicles for long-distance freight.
Original Objectives:
- Deploy 30 hydrogen fuel cell electric HGVs for fleet use in live logistics operations.
- Install three dedicated hydrogen refuelling stations along the M4 corridor, forming the UK’s first hydrogen freight corridor.
- Create an end-to-end commercial model, integrating vehicle leasing, green hydrogen supply, and infrastructure access.
- Gather critical operational data and user insights to inform future policy and investment decisions.
- Engage UK operators to support the shift to zero-emission logistics, especially in hard-to-electrify sectors like long haul and heavy transport.
The Project Structure:
HyHAUL was built around five work packages:
- Programme Management
- Customer and Fleet Leasing
- Hydrogen Refuelling Infrastructure
- Data and Digital Systems
- Exploitation & Market Readiness
Ultimately, all work packages were delivered successfully—except customer leasing, where binding contracts fell short, triggering grant termination.
MORE INFORMATION
Hyhaul – hyhaul.co.uk
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