A NEW fleet of hydrogen buses manufactured in Ballymena has been launched at Gatwick Airport.
The Go-Ahead Group has deployed 20 Wrightbus-made vehicles for the Gatwick, Crawley and Horley areas.
The transport group has ordered a fleet of 54 hydrogen-powered buses from the Ballymena manufacturer, with the remaining 34 due to be delivered over the next 18 months.
The first 20 single-decker GB Kite Hydroliner buses have now been deployed to create one of the largest hydrogen bus fleets in Britain.
A total of £30 million is being invested in the buses and a new hydrogen refuelling station in Crawley.
Hydrogen will be stored at the Metrobus Crawley depot in liquid form, before being converted to gas held in tanks on the roof of vehicles.
The refuelling station is owned and operated by gas firm Air Products.
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Once it reaches full capacity it will be the largest of its kind in Europe and will be capable of providing the equivalent of fuel for over 100 buses per day.
Commenting on the supply deal, the new chief executive of Wrightbus, Jean-Marc Gales, 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.”
