Liverpool City Region has ordered 20 zero-emission hydrogen double deck buses from Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) following a competitive tendering process.
It is the first order for ADL’s H2.0 second-generation hydrogen platform, which has been designed to be more energy efficient to cover greater distances between refuelling.
The 20 ADL Enviro400FCEV buses are being directly purchased through the Liverpool City Region’s Transforming Cities Fund and will be owned by the people of the City Region.
They will initially serve the City Region’s busiest route, the 10A between St Helens and Liverpool city centre.
The Enviro400FCEV has been developed on ADL’s next-generation H2.0 platform and will be powered by a Ballard fuel cell power module through the efficient Voith Electrical Drive System.
With hydrogen tanks and key components intelligently packaged by the engineers that developed the market’s widest range of clean buses, the integral vehicle balances weight and maximises saloon space.
Broader plans for the Liverpool City Region include the building of hydrogen refuelling facilities, which will be the first of their kind in the North West, due to begin later in the year.
With Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, having set a target for the region to become net zero carbon by 2040 at the latest, the hydrogen buses will be an important addition to the region’s existing fleet, which is already more than 70% low emissions.
Rotheram said: “Reforming our bus network is a massive part of my plan for an integrated London-style transport network that makes traveling around our region quick, cheap and reliable.”
