Hydrogen bus deployment challenges

[ChrisPJ]

that's not to say that hydrogen wont have it's place. For buses, (expensive) batteries replacing after 7-8 years (not to mention sourcing the rare earth minerals)

To be fair the fuel cells in hydrogen buses need replacing after a while too.

 

[Leedsbusman]

I totally accept what you say and agree with you to a degree. So the question is how many passengers benefit from a through bus journey of such distance that the bus cannot complete a day's work without refuelling ?

Guessing that a swap bus half way through the day, perhaps tied in with school runs etc would be an answer but also envisage overhead chargers at large bus stations in the future for recharging electric buses whilst briefly calling. This technology is developing and trialling in Europe at the moment. Obviously, I am guessing hydrogen is not so "quickfill"

There isn’t an easy solution but today things can be done that couldn’t five years ago and there’s no reason to assume ZEB range cannot be improved further.

I would observe though that if Coastliner were split would the distance vehicles travel not stay the same - more journeys on a shorter route? Indeed if the average speeds differ on each leg then the maximum mileage could increase!

 

[47550]

To be fair the fuel cells in hydrogen buses need replacing after a while too.

I’ve read that as well - though much lower cost than a new battery set for the EVs

 

[Edvid]

To my knowledge, stage carriage hydrogen buses are notionally allocated to these parts of the UK:

• A23 corridor inc. Crawley (Metrobus)
• Aberdeen (FirstBus)
• Belfast (Translink)
• London (TfL / Metroline)
• Merseyside (Merseytravel / Arriva & Stagecoach)
• West Midlands (National Express WM)

AIUI only the Belfast, London, and (possibly) Aberdeen buses use domestically-produced hydrogen.

 

[Volvodart]

AIUI only the Belfast, London, and (possibly) Aberdeen buses use domestically-produced hydrogen.

I am unsure where the liquid hydrogen that First will be using from now on to fuel the buses at their Aberdeen depot comes from. You were probably correct with the old fuelling means at Kittybrewster and also the green hydrogen production when that eventually starts.

 

[Mwanesh]

To my knowledge, stage carriage hydrogen buses are notionally allocated to these parts of the UK:

• A23 corridor inc. Crawley (Metrobus)
• Aberdeen (FirstBus)
• Belfast (Translink)
• London (TfL / Metroline)
• Merseyside (Merseytravel / Arriva & Stagecoach)
• West Midlands (National Express WM)

AIUI only the Belfast, London, and (possibly) Aberdeen buses use domestically-produced hydrogen.

Tyseley produces hydrogen onsite.The plant is always down hence the West Midlands fleet is always off the road

 

[Wyrleybart]

Tyseley produces hydrogen onsite.The plant is always down hence the West Midlands fleet is always off the road

Concidentally, driving home off night shift I passed an NXWM "hydroliner" on the 997 at Rushall. First time I have seen one for months.

I assume this fleet has to retain a certain amount "in the tank" to always get from Walsall to Tyseley to refuel. How is hydrogen quantlty expressed as a commodity onboard ?

 

[WM Bus]

Concidentally, driving home off night shift I passed an NXWM "hydroliner" on the 997 at Rushall. First time I have seen one for months.

I assume this fleet has to retain a certain amount "in the tank" to always get from Walsall to Tyseley to refuel. How is hydrogen quantlty expressed as a commodity onboard ?

H1006/7/8/9 were used for the first time in months today on morning/afternoon peak boards.

The City - Tyseley dead runs during the day used to be on the running board before they stopped using them.

 

[Mwanesh]

Concidentally, driving home off night shift I passed an NXWM "hydroliner" on the 997 at Rushall. First time I have seen one for months.

I assume this fleet has to retain a certain amount "in the tank" to always get from Walsall to Tyseley to refuel. How is hydrogen quantlty expressed as a commodity onboard ?

Hydrogen is shown as a percentage.Some have had to be towed to Tyseley for fuelling.They have been nearly empty .

 

[Simon75]

Hydrogen is shown as a percentage.Some have had to be towed to Tyseley for fuelling.They have been nearly empty .

So why base hydrogen buses in Walsall rather at at a NX garage in Birmingham?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

So why base hydrogen buses in Walsall rather at at a NX garage in Birmingham?

They were specified as part of the Sprint corridor improvements between Walsall and Birmingham IIRC?

 

[Mwanesh]

So why base hydrogen buses in Walsall rather at at a NX garage in Birmingham?

There was meant to be a Hydrogen facility at Walsall depot .With the depot surrounded by houses planning permission was refused.Birmingham Central is next to a railway line and due for closure the other garages dont want them .Walsall are stuck with them