Northern Ireland-based bus manufacturer Wrightbus showed a production-ready fuel cell-powered double decker bus at the recent Euro Bus Expo in Birmingham, UK.

Wrightbus developed the Streetdeck FCEV with funding from the EU-backed Joint Initiative for hydrogen Vehicles across Europe project (JIVE, which some would call a fitting name).

The new Streetdeck FCEV bus features a Ballard fuel cell and a Siemens drivetrain. It has a 48 kW traction battery pack, and claims a range of 322 km. Its hydrogen storage tanks weigh just 20 kg, and the battery management system “continuously monitors and balances power stored in each battery cell whilst the vehicle is in service.”

The electric drive axle features two 100 kW permanent hub motors, and is designed to allow a flat floor throughout the bus. The bus also features a zero-emission heating system, overnight charging capability and remote diagnostics.

Wrightbus says its modular fuel cell bus platform can also be used for a battery-electric variant.

Source: Australasian Bus & Coach