Nearly seventy per cent of people have expressed that they believe low-carbon fuel to be the future of transport, according to a survey commissioned by the North West Hydrogen Alliance.
69 per cent of 2,000 people surveyed believe it is important for every UK household to move away from fossil fuelled cars.
The survey found that almost 80 per cent of 16-24 and 25-34 year olds support the move to low-carbon fuelled cars whilst 58 per cent of those over 55 support this, demonstrating a generational gap when it comes to attitudes towards fossil fuels. Likewise, 60 per cent of 16-24s have considered buying an electric car compared to 27 per cent of over 55s.
Half of respondents are aware that hydrogen is an alternative low-carbon fuel for cars and is already being used to fuel buses and Heavy Goods Vehicles in the UK. They said that a major factor in choosing to buy a hydrogen car over an electric car is vehicle price. Fuel station availability and longer running distances were also noted.
“The issue of climate change has never been higher up the agenda and hydrogen could be a vital part of the decarbonisation picture. More than two-thirds of people recognise we need to find alternative low-carbon fuels for UK cars and it’s encouraging to see that over 50% are aware of the role hydrogen could play,” said Thornton Energy Institute, at the University of Chester executive director and NWHA chair Professor Joseph Howe.
“The climate change message is clearly resonating with younger generations – something that’s become abundantly clear with the recent demonstrations in the capital. This generation are unlikely to ever own a fossil fuelled car and for them hydrogen could be an everyday reality.”
BOC business manager – clean fuels, Geraint Bruton said: “It’s encouraging to know that the public are so strongly behind the journey to clean and sustainable transport. Now what needs to happen is that hydrogen vehicles must catch up with electric vehicles in terms of public visibility, infrastructure and support. Like battery electric vehicles, hydrogen vehicles don’t produce any harmful tailpipe emissions and they benefit from increased range and faster refuelling times.”
