BLK Auto is continuing to invest locally in both hydrogen fuel-cell and electric vehicle technology. It’s now set up two different zero-emissions chassis options through a number of new partnerships including Australia’s largest body builder in Volgren.
Pioneering manufacturing technology in the sustainable bus and coach sphere in Australia isn’t new for BLK Auto. In 2021, the bus builder partnered with Hyzon to introduce Australia’s first hydrogen fuel-cell coach into service.
Now BLK Auto is further expanding its zero-emission product offering through a new deal with local body builders to veer away from a completely built up (CBU) bus that BLK traditionally specialises in. Instead, BLK Auto will supply a battery electric chassis with CATL batteries and a hydrogen fuel-cell chassis for the bus industry while continuing to offer its current CBU diesel products.
It’s a step in a different direction for BLK Auto managing director Jason Pecotic.
“With the coach fuel cell chassis, we’re working with the Toyota fuel-cell in development with Refire Technology,” Pecotic told ABC. “We’re also, over the next 12 to 18 months working alongside Cummins on a city bus fuel-cell chassis with a Volgren body.”
“It’s a new move for us and we’re excited for the change.”
Pecotic says this partnership with Volgren, Cummins, Toyota and Refire Technology has been in the works for the past six months. The manufacturer says it will still provide diesel-fuelled options as the industry continues to transition to zero-emissions vehicles. But its recent partnership proves BLK is also intent on devising new technology for renewable buses.
BLK Auto also wanted to work with local body builders and technology companies when designing these new chassis. After consulting with Australian businesses like bus and coach builder Volgren, Pecotic says BLK Auto was ready to split its resources into both electric and hydrogen fuel technology.
The BLK managing director says his company wanted to focus on local content for its new wave of zero-emissions chassis to match the sustainable shift seen in the Australian bus and coach industry.
“There’s been positive political movements towards local production that we want to embrace and support here in Australia,” Pecotic says. “We saw the number of zero-emissions buses required over the next 10 years in states like New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia and thought it was a great opportunity to invest in that technology.”
“We see this change as a positive decision going forward and we want to move with it while also regarding customer sentiment towards how we produce our chassis.”
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A key part of fulfilling the need for local Australian content is working with Volgren, Australia’s largest local bodybuilder with manufacturing sites in Perth, Brisbane and Melbourne.
Volgren Chief Commercial Officer Yuri Tessari says the agreement with BLK follows its strategy of investing in local content and exploring a range of innovative solutions in the zero-emissions field.
“The discussion started with BLK Auto wanting to work with local partners and invest in both hydrogen fuel-cell and electric vehicle technology,” Tessari told ABC. “With Volgren being one of the largest bodybuilders in the country, we were happy to have that discussion.
“They presented interesting ideas, then we started engaging from a more technological standpoint. We arrived at the conclusion that it was suitable and we could see potential to make this partnership work.”
Previously, Tessari says Volgren would consider OEMs like BLK Auto as direct competitors. Yet now as the Australian industry continues to push towards zero-emissions technology, it’s about identifying shared value and developing a range of zero-emission solutions to the market.
Tessari says the new agreements with BLK Auto will help both companies in various ways.
“It will definitely enhance our product range,” Tessari says. “It’s an opportunity for both of us to provide new solutions in the electric and hydrogen fields, while also making sure we are part of the whole range of products and customer specifications being presented to the market. A great example of that is through a hydrogen coach.”
Tessari says Volgren will continue looking into both hydrogen and electric options during its latest partnerships. The Volgren CCO says electric buses are the right way to go when it comes to suburban networks. But in regional settings, Tessari says Volgren is keen to continue exploring the possibility for hydrogen technology.
Now that BLK Auto has signed the MOU, it’s not wasting time. Its first electric chassis is now being built in its Nachang factory that’s situated in China’s Jiangxi Province. The Nachang BLK factory has been supplying bus chassis to Australia and New Zealand since 2008 – Pecotic says the tried and tested centre was perfect to produce these new chassis. The BLK Auto managing director says he expects the first chassis to arrive on Australian shores within the next six months.
Pecotic wants to have skilled workers ready for when the electric chassis land in Australia. BLK Auto is currently undergoing a recruitment drive over the next few months to appoint sales and after sales staff in Victoria, NSW and Queensland that can help the chassis builder push for a zero-emissions future.
While BLK will work with Volgren, Cummins and Refire Technology, the chassis builder is also partnering with MAN Truck & Bus to supply its body to MAN’s Australian chassis products.
For BLK Auto, this move is all about the customer. To continue to devise cutting-edge sustainable chassis technology, the company hired lead technical fuel cell engineer and ex-Optare Group CEO Graham Belgum. Pecotic says Belgum has become the lead designer of BLK Auto’s fuel-cell and BEV chassis over the past 12 months.
“With Belgum, we’ve been building what the customer wants,” Pecotic says.
“Currently we have customers who say they want a hydrogen fuel-cell city bus as well as battery electric options, so we’re in the throes of building both.”
Much like Tessari and Volgren, Pecotic says the investment into both electric and hydrogen chassis without a clear preference for either technology will help BLK Auto further learn about the two zero-emissions power sources.
“We’re here to support both options, whether it be battery electric or hydrogen fuel-cell,” Pecotic says. “Moving forward we’ll support both options. While working on hydrogen technology we’re also currently building two and three axle electric coaches for Australian operators.”
“We’ve already successfully delivered 10 hydrogen coaches and we won’t stop supporting either electric or hydrogen fuel-cell anytime soon. It all makes for such an exciting time for BLK Auto in Australia.”