Hydrogen pioneer fuels zero-emission vehicles

A Liverpool-based clean tech company is set to accelerate zero-emission transport for heavy-duty vehicles.

ULEMCo, founded by Amanda Lyne, has secured a £1.8m Innovate UK loan to develop its first fully zero-emission range, targeting vehicles that are difficult to decarbonise, including fire engines, ambulances, and HGVs. 

The new lineup will feature products combining electric motors with hydrogen combustion engines, alongside hydrogen fuel-cell solutions to extend electric vehicle range.

Amanda Lyne, founder and managing director of ULEMCo, said: “At ULEMCo we are focussed on finding practical ways to help companies cut their carbon emissions. 

“Our dual fuel solution enables them to quickly convert existing vehicles and reduce the use of fossil fuels; however, our goal has always been to offer zero emissions solutions too. 

“We know that for many applications battery technology is not only very expensive, but it cannot match the operational needs of fleets. 

“Therefore, we are excited about our new range, which will enable customers to fully decarbonise their existing vehicles at a much more affordable cost.”

Founded in 2014, ULEMCo currently offers a dual-fuel solution allowing diesel-heavy vehicles to replace large volumes of fossil fuel with hydrogen, helping fleet operators cut carbon emissions without replacing existing vehicles. 

Customers include Aberdeen City Council and Balfour Beatty.

Last year, the company raised £5 million through NPIF – Mercia Equity, which is managed by Mercia Ventures as part of the first Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF), to help it develop the technology, and since then has achieved a number of milestones.

These include deploying a hydrogen-powered baggage truck at Exeter Airport and demonstrating a fully autonomous mobile hydrogen tanker. 

Rob Hornby, investment director at Mercia Ventures, added: “ULEMCo is one of the UK’s leading innovators in the field of hydrogen transport and has built a thriving business, even though supply problems have so far limited uptake. 

“With the government’s investment in infrastructure expected to create renewed interest in hydrogen vehicles, ULEMCo will be well positioned to take advantage of the growing demand.”

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