German operator WestVerkehr has ordered 12 new Kite Hydroliner hydrogen buses from Northern Ireland-based zero-emission bus manufacturer Wrightbus.
The latest order for the single deckers means there are now 43 Wrightbus hydrogen-powered buses on the streets of Germany – with around 130 due to be on the roads by the end of this year.
WestVerkehr is based in the westernmost district of Germany, on the border with the Netherlands, and will operate the Kite Hydroliners between Heinsberg, Hückelhoven, and Erkelenz.
With its range of up to 1,000 kilometres, the Kite Hydroliner is designed for long journeys, refuelling takes less than 10 minutes and the vehicles can accommodate up to 90 passengers.
The buses for WestVerkehr meet the requirements of the VDV (Association of German Transport Companies) and the European General Safety Regulation (GSR2).
Also, Wrightbus has opened a European service centre in Brühl, close to Cologne.
The site features a spare parts warehouse, and, according to Wrightbus, it is the first step on the way to it building a comprehensive network of service centres on the continent, replicating the network that already exists in the UK.
Jean-Marc Gales, CEO of Wrightbus, said: “Under the AllServiceOne brand, our team of experts maintains and services all types of buses here in the heart of Europe.
“This includes those from other manufacturers and with different drive types.
“We are delighted that WestVerkehr is bringing our zero-emission hydrogen buses onto the roads of North Rhine-Westphalia.
“This benefits the environment and ensures that people in the region breathe better air.”
