Wales & West Utilities (WWU) has launched a 12-week green hydrogen vehicle trial in Swansea to assess the potential of hydrogen fuel-cell technology as a zero-emission solution for commercial fleets, Wales247 reported.
The gas emergency and pipeline services company is working with Ford and hydrogen technology specialists to test a prototype Ford Transit light commercial vehicle powered by a hydrogen fuel cell.
The trial is aimed at identifying low-carbon alternatives for parts of WWU’s fleet where battery-electric vehicles currently face limitations related to payload, driving range, towing capacity and charging infrastructure.
Green hydrogen for the trial is being produced and supplied by Protium Green Solutions. The vehicle will be refuelled at a facility supported by Fuel Cell Systems at the Hyppo Hydrogen Solutions site in Swansea.
WWU operational staff will use the vehicle during their regular duties across Swansea and wider West Wales. The company will assess its range, refuelling requirements, payload capacity and operating costs under real-world conditions.
The vehicle will use hydrogen refuelling at 700 bar, allowing it to operate with zero tailpipe emissions while providing the rapid refuelling capability required for commercial operations.
Stephen Offley, Transport Lead for WWU’s Net Zero & Sustainability team, said the company operates around 1,300 vehicles across Wales and the south-west of England. Its fleet travelled more than 15 million miles in 2025 and consumed around 4.3 million litres of diesel.
He said hydrogen could play an important role in decarbonising road transport and urged other organisations to consider the technology as they move away from fossil fuels.
The latest project builds on WWU’s previous hydrogen vehicle trial and is intended to assess whether fuel-cell technology can meet the operational requirements of light commercial vehicles used in sectors such as utilities and construction.
The trial also highlights the potential role of green hydrogen in decarbonising commercial transport where vehicles operate long distances, carry heavy loads or require significant towing capacity.
The project involves Ford, Protium Green Solutions, Fuel Cell Systems and Hyppo Hydrogen Solutions and is part of wider efforts in the UK to develop hydrogen vehicles and the refuelling infrastructure needed to support zero-emission commercial fleets.
