• Exclusive Content
  • Events
  • Endeavor Business Media Energy
    1. e-Mobility

    European transit systems making deal on 40 fuel-cell modules for hydrogen-powered electric buses next year

    Nov. 4, 2021
    Ballard’s 40 FCmove-HD (70kW) modules will be deployed in France, German and the United Kingdom
    Photo courtesy Ballard Power Systems website
    Photo courtesy Ballard Power Systems website

    Canadian fuel-cell developer Ballard Power Systems will supply 40 modules for European hydrogen-fueled electric buses next year, continuing its run of continent-wide H2-powered transit awards in recent years.

    Ballard’s 40 FCmove-HD (70kW) modules will be deployed in France, German and the United Kingdom. Rouen, France is deploying its first fleet of zero-emission fuel-cell electric buses using Ballard technology, while the French city of Pau is expanding its existing fleet.

    The area of Frankfurt, Germany is also expanding the number of zero-emission FCEBs powered by Ballard fuel cell technology. There are now six German cities with Ballard fuel cell buses in service or development, an increase of three cities since last year, the company reported.

    Brighton, England is the first UK municipality of its kind to have a publicly stated zero emissions goal by 2030, for its fleet of nearly 500 buses. Brighton's initial order of 20 FCEBs is the first phase of FCEB development, with supportive funding from the JIVE program and the UK's Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme.

    "The hydrogen fuel cell bus market momentum continues to accelerate throughout Europe. In only twelve months, we have expanded from 10 into over 25 cities, across 10 European countries," said Oben Uluc, Ballard's Director, European Sales. "With orders in hand to double the number of FCEBs driving passengers on European city streets, we see an exciting forward step change in the adoption of FCEBs. We see a strong growth ramp over the coming decade as our bus OEM customers deliver Ballard-powered FCEBs to transit operators planning to decarbonize their bus fleets."

    Nearly 160 hydrogen FCEBs powered by Ballard are now in service across Europe, an increase of over 80 percent since October 2020. There are approximately 150 fuel cell modules currently on order with Ballard to support the deployment of an additional 150 FCEBs in the European market, inclusive of the announcement today.

    About the Author

    EnergyTech Staff

    Rod Walton is senior editor for EnergyTech.com. He has spent 14 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist.

    Walton formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.

    He can be reached at [email protected]. 

    EnergyTech is focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids.

    Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.