H2? Oh! Daimler Buses teams up with FEV to launch the first hydrogen-powered Setra demonstrator vehicle

FEV has teamed up with Daimler Buses to create the first coach with a hydrogen fuel cell drive system. 

The starting point for the “H₂ Coach” technology demonstrator, intended for testing purposes, was a conventional Setra coach. 

This marks an important step toward locally emission-free long-distance travel: short refueling times, ranges of at least 800 kilometers per tank filling, and quiet operation underscore its practicality.

Daimler Buses and FEV jointly undertook the complete system transformation from diesel drive to fuel cell electric vehicle. After creating the overall vehicle concept, FEV took over the mechanical and E/E integration. 

One distinguishing feature is that the individual components deployed – including fuel cells, high-voltage components (such as batteries and electric motors), H₂ tank assemblies, control units including software – originate from different technology platforms from Daimler Buses and Daimler Truck. FEV integrated the systems into a functional powertrain in the overall vehicle.

An important factor in the development process was safety. Measures were developed for various crash load cases as well as for functional, high-voltage, and hydrogen safety.

“The 'H₂ Coach' impressively demonstrates how complex subsystems can be integrated into a testable, safe complete vehicle when vehicle, powertrain, and E/E expertise come from a single source,” Klaus Wolff, Vice President Project Management at FEV told That's Green.

“With our one-stop-shop approach, we quickly and efficiently delivered the desired customized solution to our customer – from concept to approval.”

After successful approval by German technical inspection authority TÜV and passing electromagnetic compatibility tests, FEV handed over the vehicle to Daimler Buses in the summer of 2025 after approximately two years of joint project work.

https://www.fev.com

Heal Rewilding secures significant Garfield Weston Foundation grant to accelerate nature recovery and community wellbeing

Courtesy Heal Rewilding

Heal Rewilding has been awarded a significant grant from the Garfield Weston Foundation, providing vital support for the charity’s work to help nature recovery, climate action and wellbeing. 

The funding will enable Heal to expand its impact across England, supporting the recovery of degraded landscapes while strengthening connections between people, wildlife and place.

Heal is taking direct action to tackle the climate and ecological crises by helping ecosystems to recover and wildlife populations to thrive. 

Alongside ecological gains, the funding will also support Heal’s work with local communities, helping to improve people’s health and wellbeing through meaningful access to nature. 

Central to the charity’s approach is enabling people to connect with the natural world – to learn, heal, share and inspire action locally, nationally and beyond.

The Garfield Weston Foundation is a family founded grant-maker supporting charities operating in a wide variety of sectors across the UK that make a positive difference within their communities.

Established by W. Garfield Weston in 1958 through an endowment of shares in the family business – now known as Associated British Foods plc – the Foundation continues to be guided by the Weston Family. The Trustees, each of whom are direct descendants of the founder, play an active, informed role in its work.

This successful model has ensured that our charitable donations have grown as the businesses have grown, enabling the Foundation to award grants totalling nearly £1.7 billion since its establishment. The most recent financial year 2024-2025 saw the Foundation give away almost £130 million to 2,967 charities.

The grant marks an important step in Heal Rewilding’s continued growth as the charity works towards its ambition of establishing more rewilding sites across England. Each Heal site is designed to provide a permanent haven for nature while also delivering tangible benefits for local communities, including job creation and inward investment. Heal’s second site will be in the north of England.

Commenting on the award, Sarah Winchester, Director of Heal Rewilding told That's Green: “This generous support from the Garfield Weston Foundation will enable us to build lasting momentum for nature recovery. 

"We've already witnessed remarkable and heartening successes at our pilot site, Heal Somerset, both in terms of biodiversity and community engagement and this funding will help us to advance our mission further. We are incredibly grateful for the confidence and belief that the Foundation shows in Heal.”

https://www.healrewilding.org.uk

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Government in Court Over Animal Welfare Concerns

Image courtesy ALF

The Animal Law Foundation will be facing the Government in Court next week challenging the removal of welfare protections for chickens.

The Animal Law Foundation will be in the Royal Courts of Justice challenging the government over amending an EU derived welfare protection prohibiting the handling of chickens by their legs, a practice which causes immense suffering. This represented the first dilution of welfare standards since Brexit.

Under the European Transport Regulation 1/2005, which until recently applied in the UK, it was strictly forbidden to lift chickens by their legs during transport and related operations:

“It shall be prohibited to… lift or drag the animals by head, ears, horns, legs, tail or fleece, or handle them in such a way as to cause them unnecessary pain or suffering.”

Handling chickens by the legs causes significant pain and distress, and injuries like fractures and dislocations. When chickens are inverted they can suffocate, as their internal organs begin to crush their lungs, which are not protected by a diaphragm. It is standard practice on UK farms due to commercial reasons to maximise efficiency and profit when collecting chickens for slaughter.

However, despite the law and the harm towards chickens, the Government permitted this practice in its Code of Practice for the Welfare of Laying Hens and Pullets and the Code of Practice for the Welfare of Meat Chickens and Meat Breeding Chickens.

The Animal Law Foundation challenged the unlawful codes; however, in response to the case, rather than enforce the law or update the codes, the government changed the law instead to remove the legal protection. It did this via a Statutory Instrument, which came into force on 22 July 2025.

In its legal challenge, The Animal Law Foundation will argue that the consultation exercise, which paved the way for the change in law, was unfair.

The High Court agrees that The Animal Law Foundation has an arguable case.

Morgane Alting von Geusau, Advocacy and Communications Coordinator, The Animal Law Foundation told That's Green: “Consultations must be fair. Whilst a public authority can have a ‘preferred’ outcome, it must not have a predetermined outcome or have a closed mind. Here the government had made it clear beforehand that its plan was to change the law to allow for the handling of chickens by the legs.

The outcome of this hearing will affect the lives of billions of chickens in the UK and determine the difference between treating animals with compassion or treating them merely as commodities to maximise profit. ”

The Animal Law Foundation is represented by Philip Rule KC.

Chicken handling was exposed in an investigation by Animal Justice Project, with catchers seemingly grabbing as many as five distressed chickens in each hand.

https://animallawfoundation.org

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Love Stinks — But It Saves Wildlife – Valentines Poo at Shaldon Wildlife Trust

This Valentine’s Day, Shaldon Wildlife Trust is inviting lovers, friends, and the slightly mischievous to show their affection in a truly unforgettable way by purchasing a personalised animal-themed “Poo Photo” that not only makes people laugh but also gives back to wildlife conservation.

Following the success of last year’s initiative, which saw around 15 supporters buy framed images of a loved or hated one’s name depicted in the excrement of one of the Trust’s animals, the Trust is bringing back and expanding the idea for 2026.

“Flowers and chocolates are lovely,” said Zak Showell, Director of Shaldon Wildlife Trust. “But for those who want to give something fun, memorable and impactful why not let nature do the talking? Our Valentine’s Poo Sale not only brings a smile, it helps fund vital conservation work here and around the world.”

How it works:

Supporters can pay £5 for a keeper to select an animal’s “offering” to feature with a personalised message.

Pay £10 and you pick the species, so if you have someone who loves meerkats or lemurs, you can pick them a personalised Valentine’s gift.

Each image will be shared across the Trust’s social media channels on February 14th

Proceeds will directly support Shaldon Wildlife Trust’s conservation efforts, supporting 8 projects globally as well as the endangered species at the zoo.

This initiative celebrates the Trust’s mission to protect wildlife and raise awareness of conservation — showing that even the oddest gifts can make a big difference for endangered species.

https://www.shaldonwildlifetrust.org.uk

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