Two sustainable bus companies are combining to produce a new technology fleet
Hydrogen fuel bus cell solution manufacturer Loop Energy has announced it will enter the Australian bus market as a supplier of fuel modules.
Loop says it will provide its products to Aluminium Revolutionary Chassis Company (ARCC), which was the developer of Australia’s first lightweight bolted aluminium city bus chassis.
ARCC has become Loop Energy’s first Australian customer and underlines Australia’s growing interesting in using hydrogen-electric buses to achieve emissions reduction targets.
Loop Energy says its fuel cell module will be integrated into ARCC’s Viking Hydrolight city bus model that aims to be running in service by 2023.
The hydrogen fuel cell solution group says it built its system around ARCC’s distinctive lightweight chassis and combines with the bus to reduce fuel consumption while allowing for increased passenger capacity compared to competing electric bus models.
ARCC is currently participating in a New South Wales government trial with its own hydrogen-electric bus, as the model is helping to inform the government how hydrogen technologies can influence a broader roll-out of zero emissions buses.
Both NSW and Queensland are committing to launching more than 10,000 hydrogen-electric vehicles collectively.
“The electric bus market is quickly emerging as an important market segment for fuel cells,” Loop Energy COO George Rubin says.
“We are very proud that we have continued to grow our footprint in this sector globally and now in Australia.
“We view the partnership with ARCC as a positive step to continuing our inroads into the electric bus market and supporting the development of next-generation bus platforms globally.”
ARCC managing director Peter Murley says: “ARCC is proud to manufacture the only zero-emissions bus designed with a full-length aluminium chassis in Australia.”
“We are excited to have Loop Energy’s technology play an important role in powering the Viking Hydrolight bus.”
Loop Energy and ARCC aim to unveil the first fuel cell bus at the Australia Bus & Coach Expo in October 2022.