Van Pool requests 40 Ballad fuel-cell engines for buses in Germany

Ballad Power Systems (Ballad) has received a letter of intent from original equipment manufacturer partner Van Hool, for 40 FCveloCity-HD 85-kilowatt fuel cell engines to power buses in Germany under the first Joint Initiative For Hydrogen Vehicles Across Europe (JIVE) program. These projects aim to commercialise fuel cell electric buses, reduce costs and support the development of hydrogen refuelling stations. Van Hool plans to deploy 30 of these buses with the Regionalverkehr Köln transit agency in
March 6, 2018 Read time: 2 mins

Ballad Power Systems (Ballad) has received a letter of intent from original equipment manufacturer partner Van Hool, for 40 FCveloCity-HD 85-kilowatt fuel cell engines to power buses in Germany under the first Joint Initiative For Hydrogen Vehicles Across Europe (JIVE) program. These projects aim to commercialise fuel cell electric buses, reduce costs and support the development of hydrogen refuelling stations.

Van Hool plans to deploy 30 of these buses with the Regionalverkehr Köln transit agency in Cologne. It also intends to run the other 10 models with Wsw mobil transit agency in Wuppertal, with deliveries expected to begin in 2019.

JIVE programs are supported by grants valued €57m (£50m) from the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking. The first initiative targets deployment of 139 fuel cell buses in nine locations while the second one aims to launch 152 models in 14 locations.

The results of these schemes are expected to demonstrate the technical readiness of fuel cell buses to operators and the economic viability of hydrogen as a zero-emission fuel to policy makers.

Rob Campbell, Ballard chief commercial officer, said: "There is momentum in the growing global deployments of fuel cell technology for heavy duty transportation applications. Where transit buses and other heavy vehicles are typically characterized by high utilization rates together with the need for rapid refueling, fuel cell electric platforms are an especially attractive zero-emission alternative. We are very pleased with this progress and expect to begin work soon with Van Hool in fulfilling initial buses under the JIVE I program, in addition to the engines we announced last September for use in Van Hool tram-buses planned for deployment in Pau, France."

Related Content

  • April 16, 2012
    Fuel cell system sets record
    UTC Power, a United Technologies company, has announced that one of its latest generation PureMotion System Model 120 fuel cell powerplants for hybrid-electric transit buses has surpassed 10,000 operating hours in real-world service with its original cell stacks and no cell replacements. This powerplant is aboard an Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) bus operating in the Greater Oakland, California area.
    Read More
  • July 19, 2017
    Driving hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to market
    An EU-funded project, with the support of the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint undertaking (FCH JU), has installed hydrogen filling stations, tested prototype fuel cell vehicles and brought together car makers and infrastructure providers to push forward the commercial viability of this zero-emissions technology. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, which manufacturers aim to make commercially available from 2018, offer zero-emissions transport and function much like an electric vehicle. However, fuel cell vehicles mu
    Read More
  • October 29, 2012
    European Parliament test drives fuel cell vehicles
    The 5th Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Drive ‘n’ Ride event was recently held in Strasbourg, France, under the patronage of Brian Simpson, Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and chair of the European Parliament’s transport and tourism committee, to demonstrate the readiness of fuel cells and hydrogen as a viable route to zero emission transport in Europe.
    Read More
  • February 8, 2017
    Hydrogen Mobility Europe deploys first 100 zero-emission vehicles
    Hydrogen Mobility Europe (H2ME), the multi-country, multi-partner project which aims to demonstrate that hydrogen can support Europe’s future transport demands, has deployed its first 100 fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) deployed by H2ME in Germany, France and the UK. H2ME brings together eight European countries to address the actions required to make the hydrogen mobility sector ready for market. H2ME plans to perform large-scale market tests of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure and deploy passeng
    Read More

Highlighted Content