Jaguar Land Rover is developing a prototype hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) based on the new Land Rover Defender, with testing scheduled to begin this year.

The FCEV concept is part of Jaguar Land Rover's aim to achieve zero tailpipe emissions by 2036 and net zero carbon emissions across its supply chain, products and operations by 2039.

FCEVs, which generate electricity from hydrogen to power an electric motor, play an important role alongside battery electric vehicles in achieving net zero emissions. Hydrogen-powered FCEVs offer high energy density and rapid refuelling, making the technology ideal for larger, longer-range vehicles.

Jaguar Land Rover's advanced engineering project, known as Project Zeus, is aided by the U.K. government's Advanced Propulsion Centre. This allows engineers to understand how a hydrogen powertrain can be optimised to deliver a variety of expectations: From range and fast refuelling, to towing and off-road capabilities. 

To deliver Project Zeus, Jaguar Land Rover has teamed up with world-class R&D partners, including the U.K. Battery Industrialisation Centre to research, develop and create the prototype FCEV.

The zero-emission prototype New Defender FCEV will begin testing towards the end of 2021 in the U.K.