Wrightbus hydrogen coach planned for 2026
“The concept is ready, the predevelopment work has been done, so we are confident we can launch it in 2026” – Jean-Marc Gales
Wrightbus‘ planned hydrogen coach is expected to be in production by 2026.
Jean-Marc Gales, Wrightbus CEO, told B&CB that a prototype model intended to demonstrate the powertrain is expected towards the end of this year.
Jean-Marc said: “The concept is ready, the predevelopment work has been done, so we are confident we can launch it in 2026.”
He says the vehicle is aimed at operators that do long distance coach journeys. “Hydrogen coaches can do up to 1,000km range and in five to ten years we will see a much higher proportion of hydrogen coaches than battery electric,” he said.
For future roll out of hydrogen coaches, Jean-Marc admits that more infrastructure needs putting in place, but says Wrightbus is well placed for this with Hygen for hydrogen generation and Rise for hydrogen infrastructure under the wing of Jo Bamford, Wrightbus’ owner.
“If you build a hydrogen coach, it’s a technical tour de force” – Jean-Marc Gales, Wrightbus CEO
Jean-Marc said: “If you build a hydrogen coach, it’s a technical tour de force. Coach operators require six to ten cubic metres of luggage space. You need at least 50 to 60 seats and disability access and enough packaging space to put the tanks and the hydrogen cooling system and the fuel cells in. But we can do it, we have the technical expertise with fuel cells; we have the best engineers on the market for fuel cell buses. We have millions of miles with electrical and fuel cell vehicles in service since we launched them.
“If you look at operators like National Express, everybody needs coaches that do long distance and are zero emission. And for that, hydrogen coaches are the optimum solution.”
Whether the entire vehicle will be built in-house or a coach bodybuilder will be brought onboard for the project, Wrightbus has yet to decide.
Jean-Marc said: “It’s probably going to be a steel body. If you talk steel body, you’re talking coach builders. But we are reviewing that at the moment. We will probably take a decision in the next three to six months to get it all in motion.”