The Queensland Public Service’s official car fleet, QFleet, is to be the first in the State to include hydrogen-powered vehicles, adding five Hyundai Nexos to its line-up.
The new additions join 100 electric vehicles now in the State Government fleet and are to be available to frontline health staff, educators and community workers.
Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen, Mick de Brenni said the vehicles would be fuelled with home-grown Queensland hydrogen as they were tested in on-road conditions over the next three years.
“Leasing them as part of our trial of fuel cell electric vehicle technology highlights the fact that QFleet continues to drive Queensland’s renewable transport options,” Mr de Brenni said.
“This trial aims to accelerate the uptake of hydrogen technology and support Queensland’s push to position itself as a global hydrogen superpower.”
He said it would demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of hydrogen for passenger vehicles and possibly lead the way for hydrogen’s roll out to trucks, trains and marine applications.
“This, in turn, helps grow our local hydrogen supply chain,” Mr de Brenni said.
“It means jobs sourcing raw materials for renewable hydrogen production and manufacturing state-of-the-art technology, right through to exporting this renewable energy to an increasingly hydrogen-hungry world market,” he said.
Mr de Brenni said while the transport sector was currently Queensland’s second-largest source of greenhouse emissions, ironically, it could be the vehicle for dealing with climate change.
