How Vauxhall, JCB and Toyota are creating everyday heroes that’ll keep Britain running with their multi-fuel solution

SMALL van. Pick-up truck. JCB digger.

Three everyday heroes that keep Britain running.

Partly because they are brilliant at what they do.

But mostly because they are properly clean and eco-friendly.

The titchy Vauxhall Combo is electric.

The experimental Toyota Hilux and JCB digger are both powered by hydrogen.

Sorted.

I’ll repeat once again: We need a multi-fuel solution if we’re serious about Net Zero.

• Electric vehicles for our towns and cities.
• Hydrogen for the heavy lifting — that’s trucks, trains, buses, boats, construction equipment and vans that do long distances
• E-fuels for the stuff we drive today. We can’t just scrap 37million cars all at once.

The top bods at Toyota have been researching hydrogen fuel-cell technology for 30 YEARS.

They asked UK engineers to put the heart of a Mirai saloon into a Hilux to see if it works.

It does. And some.

Simple, fun, nippy

The result is a pick-up that’s smooth and quiet like an EV combined with the range and payload of a diesel.

It refuels as quickly as a diesel — and emits only water.

Now you might notice the low belly on this prototype.

Toyota’s third-gen fuel-cell tech will be smaller, lighter and cheaper, ­ allowing for the same ground clearance as a regular pick-up. A front e-motor will make it 4WD.

JCB is doing something slightly different by developing hydrogen combustion engines for its legendary digger — backhoe loader if you know your onions — and telescopic handler.

They can do everything the diesel-powered equivalents can do and will be seen working on building sites and farms soon.

Special projects director Tim Burnhope said: “JCB and Toyota are very alike.

“We look for better ways of doing things and have gravitated towards hydrogen as a practical zero-carbon fuel of the future.”

Now we come to the Combo Electric.

Delivery drivers, plumbers, painters, plasterers, dog walkers, gardeners, everyone who earns a crust with their hands, should try this £32k city van because it’s a cracker.

Just select D for drive and go. Simple. Fun. Nippy. No fumes.

PlayStation-style paddles adjust the regenerative braking levels, so if you’re good at anticipating traffic flow you’ll hardly ever touch the foot brake. We used 20 miles of range on a 50-mile trip.

There’s a digital rear-view mirror to see behind you and a bulkhead load hatch for long pipes. Payload is 759kg.

Just don’t bother with three seats up front unless the person in the middle has no knees.

The Combo Electric is made at the old Astra factory at Ellesmere Port alongside sister vans for Citroen, Peugeot and Fiat.

Electric versions of the medium-sized Vivaro will be produced at the Luton plant from next year.

Vauxhall, JCB and Toyota are cleaning up.