Since its debut in Aberdeen last year, a “world-first” type of hydrogen bus has clocked up one million kilometers, according to its maker.
In Aberdeen, the Wrightbus Streetdeck Hydroliner made its debut in 2021.
The fleet of hydrogen-fueled double-deckers was launched by First Bus, with 15 vehicles costing £8.3 million in EU and Scottish Government funding won by councils.
The achievement – the equivalent of traveling around the world 40 times – means the company’s hydrogen-powered buses have averted 1,700 tonnes of CO2 emissions from entering the environment when compared to trips taken by a diesel bus.
The decrease in pollution is also equivalent to removing over 400 automobiles from the road for a year.
The company’s buses are now in use in London, Birmingham, Dublin, and Belfast, in addition to Aberdeen.
The Hydroliner bus releases water vapor instead of hazardous pollutants from its exhaust.
The first-ever Hydroliner to commence passenger service in Aberdeen will be on exhibit at the ITT Hub event in Farnborough next week, from May 11-12.
Dismantled
However, the bus’s itinerary was not altogether straightforward — at least not in Aberdeen.
After “mechanical issues,” the 15-strong fleet has just been reinstated to duty.
An engineer discovered a problem with the mounting bracket at the back of a Hydroliner during normal examinations in February.
The buses had to be taken out of service so that the manufacturer could update and replace the part.
A large ‘bus’-iness
Wrightbus, based in Northern Ireland, was saved from administration in 2019 by Jo Bamford, 44, the heir to the JCB diggers firm.
The Ballymena-based automotive manufacturer has expanded from 56 employees to over 900 now.
“Topping one million kilometers is a great benchmark for our buses,” said Bamford, whose father Lord Bamford is the millionaire chairman of JCB.
“Talking about such data and the impact they’ve had on emissions is really powerful, and having these numbers placed into context really puts our work into perspective.”
“At Wrightbus, we have been steadfast in our pursuit of zero-emission transportation via ongoing innovation – but while these results are remarkable, we cannot rest on our laurels.”
“We will keep pushing for increased support for zero-emission transportation, both in the UK and throughout the world, to ensure that crucial net-zero objectives are met.”
