Van Hool to deliver 21 hydrogen buses

As part of a project that sees the Belgian manufacturer lead a consortium of 14 partners across six European member states, Van Hool is to commission 21 hydrogen fuel cell buses. Between 2015 and 2019, the 21 vehicles will be used in London, Rome, Rotterdam, Cherbourg and Flanders. The project, which has been given the name 3Emotion (Environmentally Friendly, Efficient, Electric Motion), will run for five years (2015 to 2019) and will have a total value of €41.8m/£31.1m. The European Commission will cover €15m of the total amount. Van Hool is to coordinate the entire project, including research, the development and manufacturing of buses powered by hydrogen and the infrastructure for the hydrogen fuelling stations. The consortium meets the targets set by the European Union: the reduction of CO2 and other harmful emissions (such as fine dust and NOx), the goal of zero-emissions public transport and renewable energy sources, and the creation of green jobs in the member states.

CEO at Van Hool NV, Filip Van Hool, said, ‘We already have some ten years of experience with hydrogen fuel cell buses. Today, we have 49 hydrogen fuel cell buses operational in Europe (27) and in the USA (22). The priceless experience that we have gained in the process will prove valuable for the development of new-generation hydrogen fuel cell buses within the framework of the 3Emotion project. These vehicles with high added value are of tremendous importance for our plant in Koningshooikt.’

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