Go-Ahead Group Introduces Hydrogen-Powered Buses to Fastway Services

The future of sustainable transportation is here, and it starts with The Go-Ahead Group's newest addition to their fleet of buses. The transportation company has recently introduced a fleet of 20 GB Kite Hydroliner buses from Wrightbus, set to be deployed on Fastway BRT services in the Crawley, Horley and Gatwick Airport area. But that's not all – an additional 34 vehicles will be joining the fleet over the next 18 months to create one of Britain's largest hydrogen bus fleets.

Wrightbus

This is a significant move towards greener and more environmentally-friendly public transportation. The hydrogen-powered buses emit only water vapour, which means that they have zero harmful emissions that are damaging to our planet and our health. The introduction of this new fleet is expected to make a substantial contribution towards reducing harmful emissions and improving air quality, in line with the UK's goals of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

But, what is hydrogen, and how does it power a bus?
Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe and has the potential to provide an inexhaustible source of clean energy. The buses run on a fuel cell that combines hydrogen and oxygen from the air to produce electricity. This, in turn, powers the electric motor, providing a smooth, quiet and efficient ride. Hydrogen-powered buses have an advantage over battery-electric vehicles in terms of range, as they can go further without needing to recharge.

These hydrogen-powered buses are the first in Go-Ahead's fleet of over 6,000 buses and can cover long ranges while carrying heavy loads. This makes them the perfect fit for the intensively used local routes around Gatwick, which operate all year round.

What about the fleet, who manufacturers them?

Manufactured by Wrightbus, the single-decker GB Kite Hydroliner buses will have hydrogen stored in tanks on the roof of the vehicles after being converted from liquid form, stored at the Metrobus Crawley depot. The refuelling station at Crawley, which is owned and operated by Air Products, a world-leading industrial gas company, has the capability of providing the equivalent of fuel for over 100 buses daily, once it reaches its full capacity.

This would be the largest station of its kind in Europe. Recently, the Crawley bus depot at Wheatstone Close hosted a presentation and ceremony to launch the new hydrogen buses. A number of local stakeholders and politicians attended, and Richard Holden, the minister for roads and local transport, spoke at the event and toured the refuelling facilities.

Richard Holden MP, Minister for Roads and Local Transport said,

“Communities and commuters across the country know how important buses are – and these UK-made hydrogen buses could revolutionise transport for millions, bringing quieter and smoother journeys. It is great to see these 20 new hydrogen buses on our roads, one of the largest fleets in the UK, backed by over £4.3m of funding from our Ultra-Low Emission Bus scheme. With nearly 3,400 Zero Emission Buses funded across the UK since February 2020, this latest fleet puts us well on the way to meeting our target of 4,000 ZEBs.”

Ed Wills, Managing Director for Brighton & Hove and Metrobus said,

 “I am delighted to introduce 20 new hydrogen buses to our Metrobus fleet and a liquid hydrogen refuelling station, which, once fully commissioned will be the largest of its kind in Europe. This launch marks a historic moment for our business and demonstrates our commitment to reducing emissions in the local community where the only thing that comes out of the bus tailpipe is water. A further 34 buses will join our fleet over the next 18 months through our partnership working with Surrey County Council.

Jean-Marc Gales, Chief Executive of Wrightbus, said,

“We are honoured to work together with the Go-Ahead Group to provide our industry-leading zero-emission buses for these important routes. Public transport is a key area in the UK’s zero carbon ambitions and hydrogen has a vital role to play. Collaborations such as this one show the potential of UK industry to meet this challenge that we face.”

This marks a significant step towards a greener and more sustainable future for public transportation. It's an example of what can happen when government, the private sector, and communities work together towards a common goal. It's clear that The Go-Ahead Group is committed to creating cleaner, safer, and more efficient transportation options, and this new hydrogen bus fleet is just the beginning. Let's hope that other transportation companies will follow suit, and we'll see more hydrogen buses on our roads soon.