Partnership to drive hydrogen bus development across ANZ

Rendered image of Foton Mobility hydrogen bus (partnership)
Image: Foton Mobility

Gas and engineering company BOC and hydrogen vehicle company Foton Mobility have formed a partnership to advance the hydrogen bus sector in Australia and New Zealand.

BOC and Foton Mobility’s partnership will see the development of operational and commercial hydrogen bus models across the entire supply chain, including production, storage and refuelling, right through to leasing arrangements and maintenance.

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The partnership will develop pathways for scaling up hydrogen bus networks, as bus operators move from pilot hydrogen bus projects in the coming years to widespread uptake across public transport networks over the next decade.

BOC South Pacific director of strategy and clean energy Vesna Olles said collaboration was needed to develop scalable, affordable models that support the roll-out of hydrogen bus fleets across Australia and New Zealand. 

“BOC is delighted to be working with Foton Mobility to explore a variety of leasing arrangements for hydrogen buses and hydrogen refuelling stations, and demonstrating a strong business case to government and private operators interested in decarbonising their bus fleets,” Olles said.

“Transport accounts for almost one fifth of Australia’s total carbon emissions, which needs to be reduced significantly to meet net zero emissions targets. Hydrogen buses are already widely used around the world, with proven technology and infrastructure making it a viable option for the future.”

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Hydrogen buses can be fuelled in just 12 minutes, and one hydrogen refuelling station can refuel up to 160 buses a day. Additonally, hydrogen buses have approximately 100km extra driving range than the typical electric bus.

Foton Mobility is an Australian owned new energy vehicle supplier. The Foton hydrogen bus comes with SinoHytec/Toyota fuel cell. Vehicle supply is from Foton Global, which has deployed more than 600 hydrogen buses worldwide.

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