Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of hydrogen as a fuel to replace petrol and diesel in (a) motor cars and (b) heavy goods vehicles.

The transition to zero emission vehicles will help to meet greenhouse gas reduction goals, contribute to reducing poor air quality and contribute to economic growth in the UK by providing skilled jobs in the automotive sector. Our approach to delivering our long-term ambitions for greener transport is technology neutral and we are supporting hydrogen where the market favours its use. The Department’s Transport Energy Model provides a clear assessment of the relative environmental impacts, including on greenhouse gas emissions and air quality, of a range of fuel and powertrain options for cars, vans, buses and heavy goods vehicles over the period to 2050, including hydrogen fuel cell.