Go-Ahead Group launches UK’s largest hydrogen bus fleet

The Go-Ahead Group has announced that it has launched a fleet of hydrogen fuel cell buses to serve routes in the Gatwick Airport, Crawley and Horley area. With a total of 54 vehicles, it will become one of the largest hydrogen bus fleets in the UK and will be supported by the largest liquid hydrogen re-fuelling station in Europe.

These zero-emission buses are specifically designed for intensive use, operating around the clock, every day of the year, and are the first hydrogen-powered vehicles in Go-Ahead’s fleet of over 6,000 buses. Liquid hydrogen will be stored at the Metrobus Crawley depot before being converted to gas and stored in tanks on the buses’ roofs. Once fully operational, the liquid hydrogen re-fuelling station in Crawley will be capable of supplying fuel for over 100 buses daily, making it the largest facility of its kind in Europe. 

Richard Holden MP, Minister for Roads and Local Transport, said: “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 £4.3 million 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.”

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

Christian Schreyer, Group Chief Executive of The Go-Ahead Group, said: “These fantastic buses and the innovative re-fuelling depot demonstrate Go-Ahead’s commitment to investing in a net zero future for transport.”

Furthermore, Surrey County Council has invested £16.4 million to introduce 34 hydrogen fuel cell buses, forming one of the largest hydrogen bus fleets in the country. This initiative supports the council’s goal of becoming a net zero county by 2050 and encouraging more residents to use cleaner and greener bus travel. The council also plans to invest in bus priority measures and real-time passenger information to enhance the bus service.