Dr Jonathan Leaver, Associate Professor of Engineering.
Update as at 25 February 2019:
Read the Radio New Zealand report on the Forum – Experts: Hydrogen vehicles next big thing in energy (22 February 2019)
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Our Associate Professor of Engineering, Dr Jonathan Leaver will join other global leaders in hydrogen technology in Rotorua later this month to discuss research and promotion of hydrogen as a fuel source for the future.
Members of the International Energy Agency Hydrogen Technology Collaboration Programme (IEA Hydrogen TCP) and experts from more than 21 countries will discuss hydrogen development along with the impact it could make in New Zealand and on the global economy, with applications in transport, industry, and energy systems.
The Ministry of Business Innovation and Enterprise (MBIE), welcomed the opportunity to host the committee, saying that hydrogen has the potential to play an important role in replacing fossil fuels and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in domestic transport and industry.
Jonathan is MBIE’s representative on the Executive Committee and is a member of the International Standards Organisation (ISO) Committee charged with development of safe systems for the production, storage, transport, measurement and use of hydrogen. He says New Zealand stands to benefit from adopting hydrogen technologies.
A hydrogen bus in Seoul, South Korea.
“Hydrogen will have an important role in the transport sector alongside battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Hydrogen powered cars, trucks and trains are actually electric vehicles operating on hydrogen fuel cell technology instead of batteries. Fuel cells have no moving parts and convert hydrogen stored in a fuel tank into electricity and pure water. Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) have driving ranges and refuelling times similar to gasoline and diesel vehicles.”
Jonathan said global market development for hydrogen vehicles was about 8-10 years behind that of BEVs, although FCEV cars were available overseas from car makers such Toyota, Hyundai, and Honda.
In New Zealand, Ports of Auckland announced in December it would build the first hydrogen fuel production plant during 2019, with carbon-free fuel to be used in forklifts, cars, and potentially a bus.
Find out more about Jonathan Lever in our regular Nest ‘Get to know’ series here.