Ballard announces order for 40 bus fuel cell systems

Ballard Power Systems has received orders for a total of 40 fuel cell modules for planned use in buses in France, Germany and the UK next year.

The FCmove-HD 70 kW fuel cell modules are to be installed in new hydrogen buses for Rouen and Pau (France), Frankfurt (Germany) and Brighton (England). In the case of Frankfurt, these are likely to be the FC systems for the 13 hydrogen buses ordered from Solaris by the municipal utility subsidiary In-der-City-Bus (ICB) in May 2021. At that time, the Solaris Urbino 12 hydrogen H2 buses were scheduled to enter service in 2022.

Ballard states that H2 buses with Ballard fuel cell technology are now in operation or in preparation in six German cities. That is three cities more than a year ago. Since the six cities also include those “in preparation”, Frankfurt is probably already counted there.

Ballard does not break down the number of units for Rouen and Pau. Since 20 systems were ordered for Brighton, that leaves seven systems for the two French cities.

In total, almost 160 hydrogen buses with Ballard fuel cells are currently in operation in Europe, an increase of 80 per cent compared to October 2020, according to the manufacturer’s figures. “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,” says Oben Uluc, Director European Sales at Ballard.

ballard.com