The H2Bus Consortium announces an agreement with Wrightbus for the supply of hydrogen fuel cell electric buses in Europe. The H2Bus Consortium is now on track to deploy 1,000 hydrogen fuel cell electric buses, along with supporting infrastructure, in European cities at commercially competitive rates.
This news concludes the consortium’s tendering exercise and subsequent due diligence, which made it clear that Wrightbus offers the most attractive hydrogen solution. Following the industrial recovery of Wrightbus, led by Jo Bamford (owner) and Buta Atwal (CEO), Wrightbus is now entering the European market with a world-leading zero emission single-decker bus, supported by a world-class maintenance package. Wrightbus is in a better position than ever before to supply customers and to provide first-class after-sale support.
This new offering is the most cost-effective truly zero-emission option available, with a single-decker bus price below €375,000 after funding, a hydrogen price between €5 and €7 per kilogram and a service cost between €0.25 and €0.35 per kilometre, all depending on operator and route requirements. The zero-tailpipe emission feature of the fuel cell bus’s operation will be complemented by zero-emission hydrogen production from renewable energy sources, yielding a “well-to-wheel” emission-free transportation solution.
“Wrightbus is leading the way with the world’s first hydrogen double-decker bus and, together with the H2Bus Consortium, we can show the UK, Europe and the rest of the worlds what we have to offer.” says Buta Atwal, CEO at Wrightbus. “This agreement will deliver hundreds of hydrogen fuel cell electric buses to a wider European market, providing extensive range, acclaimed operational ability and a lower cost for operators compared to an electric bus equivalent. Public transport is being transformed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic with a huge focus on zero emissions, so we feel privileged to be at the vanguard of this revolution alongside our other consortium members."
Jacob Krogsgaard, CEO of Everfuel, said, “We are excited to work with Wrightbus to deliver the H2Bus Consortium’s ambition of the lowest cost truly zero emission fuel cell electric buses in Europe. Through our bus supplier Wrightbus; hydrogen cylinder and distribution module supplier Hexagon; hydrogen fuel cell supplier Ballard; and electrolyser and refuelling station supplier Nel, the consortium brings European engineering expertise to our streets. This will create and secure highly skilled jobs for the next generation of transport technology and fuelling solutions in Europe.”
The first phase of the project, totalling 600 buses, is supported by €40 million from the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF1). The funding will enable the deployment of 200 hydrogen fuel cell electric buses and supporting infrastructure in each of Denmark, Latvia and the UK by 2023. In parallel, the H2Bus consortium will remain active in other clusters across Europe to reach the targeted 1,000 bus deployment.
About H2Bus
H2Bus is a consortium formed by member companies Everfuel Europe A/S, Wrightbus Ltd, Ballard Power Systems Inc., Hexagon Purus, Nel ASA and Ryse Hydrogen Limited, all leading players in the hydrogen fuel cell electric value chain. Our purpose is to provide the most affordable truly zero-emission solution to the European public transport sector.
About Wrightbus
Established in 1946, Wrightbus has been leading the way in bus technology for nearly 75 years. Bought out of administration in 2019 by Jo Bamford, Wrightbus has unveiled plans to have 3,000 hydrogen buses operating on the UK's streets by 2024, with the first buses going into Aberdeen and London in 2020.
Wrightbus media contact: For all media enquiries, images or interview requests, contact Nathan Rous on 07971 603477 or email nathan@nathanrous.com
For more information:
Jacob Krogsgaard, CEO, Everfuel
Telephone: +45 2871 8945 | email: jk@everfuel.com
Lars Jakobsen, Project Development Manager, H2Bus
Telephone: +45 2972 3933 |email: contact@h2bus.eu
For more information, please visit www.h2bus.eu
1 CEF supports the development of high performing, sustainable and efficiently interconnected trans-European networks in the fields of transport, energy and digital services.
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