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Fuel cell electric bus project report provides tool for cities & bus operators

Posted: 30 November 2016 | Katie Sadler, Intelligent Transport | No comments yet

Clean Hydrogen in European Cities (CHIC) – a fuel cell electric bus project – has launched a report intended to guide cities and bus fleet operators in understanding the reality of operating fuel cell buses.

Dutch public transport authorities to upscale use of fuel cell electric buses

Clean Hydrogen in European Cities (CHIC) – a fuel cell electric bus project – has launched a report intended to guide cities and bus fleet operators in understanding the reality of operating fuel cell buses.

Dutch public transport authorities to upscale use of fuel cell electric buses

The CHIC report entitled, “fuel cell electric buses: a proven zero emission solution. Key facts, results, recommendations” was launched today at the International Zero Emission Bus Conference in London, City Hall.

The report has been produced in order to provide cities and bus fleet operators with a guide in understanding the reality of operating fuel cell buses today, based on the intensive learnings and results of the CHIC project. Furthermore, the report also contains information about the environmental analysis and the social study results, and suggests some hints and options for the development of commercial strategies for the deployment of fuel cell electric buses.

Understanding the reality of operating fuel cell buses

As the deployment of fuel cell electric buses does not come without challenges associated to costs, technical availability of the buses and regulations/regulatory barriers, the report provides recommendations on how these challenges can be overcome through action by bus operators, technology providers and regional and national policy makers.

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Commenting on the report, the European Public Private Partnership FCH JU Executive Director Bart Biebuyck said: “CHIC is an FCH JU flagship project and we are extremely proud to see that it did contribute to the commercialisation process of this technology. Thanks to CHIC, 26 fuel cell electric buses have been deployed throughout Europe driving public transport straight towards a new sustainable system. We need to further inform publics about fuel cell buses’ benefits and raising awareness in that respect is crucial. For this reason, the FCH JU is delighted to see the publication of the new CHIC report which is an excellent material to further communicate not only on the projects’ achievements but also to show the way for similar new initiatives.”

CHIC is a six year flagship zero emission bus project that deployed a fleet of fuel cell electric buses and hydrogen refuelling stations in cities across Europe and at one site in Canada. The project will end in December 2016.

The full report can be viewed here. Additional information for cities and operators is available on a newly launched website dedicated to fuel cell electric buses: www.fuelcellbuses.eu.