Wrightbus hydrogen deckers clock-up 100,000miles
First Aberdeen‘s hydrogen-powered double-deckers from Wrightbus have completed 100,000 miles of operation.
The hydrogen buses are predominantly operating on the Service 19 route in Aberdeen. To support the fleet’s deployment, Wrightbus installed a support team of hydrogen specialists on the ground in Aberdeen as well as an escalation team and a technical back-up team on 24-hour call.
“It is a credit to Aberdeen City Council and to First Bus that they have embraced this new technology so readily” – Ian Gillott, Wrightbus Group Director
Ian Gillott, Wrightbus Group Director, said: “To reach 100,000 miles is a significant milestone. It is a credit to Aberdeen City Council and to First Bus that they have embraced this new technology so readily, putting Aberdeen firmly and historically on the zero emissions map.”
It has been calculated that since launching into customer service in January, the fleet of 15 First Aberdeen buses has already saved 170,000kg of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere, the equivalent of taking 42 cars off the road for a year.
Michelle Thomson, hydrogen bus driver at First Aberdeen, said: “Drivers and the public absolutely love the new hydrogen buses – sailing smoothly and silently through the city’s streets is an absolute joy. We get people hopping on just for a ride, to enjoy the experience.
“It’s been especially lovely during lockdown, too, as the buses are so quiet that socially distancing passengers wearing masks can still have a natter from either end of the bus. As drivers, it makes us much more in tune with what’s going on on board, so we’re able to deliver the best in customer service.
“In fact, they’re so quiet that we’re getting more customers nodding off onboard – I imagine this will start to happen more as hospitality opens up and people take the opportunity to make their way back from the pub!
“It’s lovely driving through countryside routes as well, knowing that we’re not disturbing the peace – we can glide through, hardly noticed. But most of all it’s great knowing that we’re doing our bit to help protect the planet – that’s really important to us all.”