Northern Irish bus manufacturer Wrightbus has inked a deal with Canadian fuel cell specialist Ballard Power Systems for the supply of 70 fuel cell modules, slated for use in buses both in the UK and Germany. The agreement includes the delivery of FCmove-HD systems to Wrightbus this year, with the buses expected to be operational by next year.
The hydrogen fuel cell drives will power single and double-decker buses, with Saarbahn in Germany recently placing an order for 28 hydrogen buses from Wrightbus. Oben Uluc, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, EMEA, at Ballard Power Systems, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “We are pleased to strengthen our relationship with Wrightbus and support their deployment of an increasing volume of hydrogen-powered transit buses across the UK and Europe.”
The partnership between Wrightbus and Ballard Power Systems reflects a growing trend in European transit towards decarbonization. Uluc noted the broader market acceptance of fuel cell buses by European transit operators seeking sustainable solutions that offer long range, fast refueling, and scalable refueling infrastructure.
Ballard Power Systems recently secured its largest order from Polish bus manufacturer Solaris, involving the supply of 1,000 fuel cell modules by the end of 2027. Javier Iriarte, CEO of Solaris, highlighted Solaris’ commitment to hydrogen technology in public transport, with nearly 200 hydrogen-powered buses delivered to date and over 500 units in the order book for the next two years.
In line with its expansion plans, Ballard Power Systems is set to establish a new ‘Gigafactory’ in Texas, USA, for the production of fuel cell components and systems. The new facility, named Ballard Rockwall Giga 1 in Rockwall, Texas, will see an investment of approximately 160 million dollars, underscoring the company’s commitment to advancing hydrogen technology.
