Oxfordshire has become the first local authority in England to introduce a dual-fuel hydrogen and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) highways maintenance vehicle, marking a milestone in greener road maintenance.
The 3.5-tonne truck, operated by Oxfordshire County Council’s highways contractor M Group, has been retrofitted by hydrogen specialists ULEMCo and is the first hydrogen-powered vehicle in M Group’s 10,000-strong UK fleet.
Compared with diesel, the hydrogen and HVO combination is expected to cut tailpipe carbon emissions by around 30–40% while also reducing harmful nitrogen oxide emissions.
A second hydrogen-powered HGV is due to join the Oxfordshire fleet in early 2027 as part of the trial, which will assess performance, operating costs and fuel efficiency.
